Mike's panic attacks on Bad Boys: Ride or Die explained

Meanwhile, Will Smith's Mike experiences several panic attacks Bad Boys: Ride or Diebut what causes them? Smith was a major television star in the early 1990s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airbut it was the first Bad boys film that turned him into a megastar. When Smith took his turn as cocky Miami cop Mike Lowrey, audiences' perception of him changed, and he followed with more hits like ” Independence Day And Men in Black.

It was Smith's immense chemistry with his co-star Martin Lawrence that really made the film Bad boys However, the series was a success. Bad Boys: Ride or Die broke a Rotten Tomatoes record for the seriesand grossed over $400 million worldwide (via Box office mojo). The latest film continues Mike's gradual evolution from a flamboyant, brash womanizer to a mature, introspective man. Recent entries have seen Mike go through some big changes, including surviving a shooting and marrying his physical therapist Christine (Melanie Liburd).

When Mike has panic attacks on Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Ride or Die presents Mike with a new challenge to overcome

There is a key sequence in the first act of Bad Boys: Ride or Die when Mike dreams of the murder of Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) by his son Armando (Jacob Scipio). This is interrupted by visions of him marrying Christine, and he is clearly already troubled by the thought of losing his wife when he learns of the corruption allegations made against Howard.

This leads to Mike's first panic attack after the attack on Fletcher's (John Salley) club, where he is so overwhelmed that he collapses during a car chase and is almost run over by the villain McGrath (Eric Dane). In the aftermath Mike refuses to call what happened to him a “panic attack” and presses forward with the investigation. He has two milder seizures throughout the story; In the first case he, Marcus (Martin Lawrence) and Armando survive a helicopter crash, in the second he learns that McGrath has kidnapped Christine.

None of these episodes are as intense as the one Mike experiences outside Fletcher's club, but they do see him overcome by fear and taking a moment to catch his breath. Bad Boys: Ride or Die's The team ends up facing off against McGrath in an abandoned amusement park, where Mike's worst dream apparently comes true. While McGrath holds Christine at gunpoint, During this standoff, Mike experiences his worst panic attack and is unable to shoot, despite having a clear view of McGrath with his sniper rifle.

This is certainly a reference to Smith's infamous Oscars incident where he slapped host Chris Rock. Mike is taken out of this attack by Marcus slapping him several times. He then manages to overcome his fear, save Christine and bring down McGrath.

Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Joe Pantoliano are the only actors to appear in every film
Bad boys
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Why Mike has panic attacks with bad guys: Ride or Die

The Bad Boys' former confirmed bachelor suddenly has a lot more to lose

A key factor in Mike's panic attacks Bad Boys: Ride or Die is the fear of losing loved onesno matter how hard he fights to save her. Since then, he has experienced repeated trauma Bad boys for lifeincluding realizing that the son he never knew had killed his mentor Howard while simultaneously trying to kill him him. His partner Marcus also survives a heart attack during Mike's wedding reception, so death weighs heavily on his mind Ride or Die's The story begins.

Mike has learned the hard way that he's not as invincible as he once thought, and despite being over 50, he's finally learning to act like an adult. This is what triggers Mike's constant panic attacks Bad Boys: Ride or Diebecause he suddenly has more to lose than before. He is terrified of losing Christine or his son, and this feeling of constant fear begins to overwhelm him. Only thanks to Marcus' unconventional slapping therapy in the finale is Mike able to move on.

Mike's panic attacks are an important development for Will Smith's Bad Boys character

Ride or Die continues Mike's development

Mike didn't have much depth in his first two years Bad boys films; He liked fast cars, beautiful women and shooting guns. This was in contrast to Marcus, a devoted husband and father who was content to avoid violence whenever possible. The action was turned out like this Bad Boys II that the sequel borders on a cartoon, but represents one of the best achievements of the delayed third part Bad boys for life put the franchise to the test again.

Mike may still cling to the idea that he's supremely confident and capable, but these panic attacks reveal a more human, vulnerable side.

Mike had to come to terms with the idea that he was no longer that smart young man and began to imagine what his future might look like. Bad Boys: Ride or Die Emotionally, Mike finds himself in the best situation he's ever been in – but that brings with it new challenges to. The fourth part was smart to develop Mike as a person; He may still cling to the idea that he is supremely confident and capable, but these panic attacks reveal a more human, vulnerable side.

What Mike's panic attacks mean for his future after Bad Boys 4

How will “Bad Boys 5” continue Mike’s growth?

Mike's panic attacks play an important role in this Ride or diebut as always, they don't stop him from taking down the bad guys. Overall, the tone of the fourth entry is lighter and sillier than Bad boys for lifeso that Marcus suffers a massive heart attack but spends the rest of the film running around and firing guns. None of this should be taken too seriously While it's a great touch to humanize Mike, the sequel is still intended primarily as an action blockbuster.

It is not known whether Bad Boys 5 will happen, but consider Ride or Die's Despite critical and commercial success, it will likely continue at some point. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Mike and whether his panic attacks will continue. However, the fourth film suggests that he was “cured” by Marcus' slapping. After repeatedly mocking Marcus for his attempts at self-improvement in the past, It would be interesting to see how Mike approaches things like therapy or meditation next time.

His marriage to Christine could even produce children, meaning Mike could become a family man in the near future Bad boys. Add to that the fact that Marcus and Mike are getting closer to retirement age, and as cops they can only dodge bullets and explosions so many times before they start to long for a quieter life. The impending retirement would be another interesting impetus for the next excursion to explore, as it's hard to imagine Mike not struggling with the idea of ​​not having a badge or a weapon.

Source: Box Office Mojo