These Unique Legacy Characters Met a Merciless Destiny in ‘Unhealthy Boys

Bad Boys: Ride or Die did greater than progress the lives of its Miami detective heroes Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett (Will Smith and Martin Lawrence). The fourth installment of the favored buddy cop franchise added depth to many returning characters from the earlier installment, most notably Mike’s biological son Armando and Marcus’ son-in-law Reggie. Moreover, its premise allowed for the late Capt. Howard (Joe Pantoliano) to play a big function from past the grave.

Of all of the callbacks to earlier Unhealthy Boys installments, nonetheless, a revelation about Capt. Howard’s secret previous reveals the stunning whereabouts of some essential legacy characters: The darkish destiny of Mike and Marcus’ detective colleagues Sanchez and Ruiz (Nestor Serrano and Julio Oscar Mechoso). These characters who performed a big function in the original 1995 installment have been notably absent from the next sequels with out rationalization. The small print of the place they’ve been since Unhealthy Boys weren’t solely a shock but in addition show that different absent legacy characters is probably not so secure.

Detective Sanchez and Ruiz’s Roles In ‘Unhealthy Boys’

Like lots of the buddy cop movies earlier than it, Sanchez and Ruiz have been the seasoned however pleasant rival detectives to Mike and Marcus. They spend a lot of Unhealthy Boys busting Mike and Marcus’ chops on the job, always attempting to one-up one another with insults. Their most notable scene had the companions arguing over Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnaz’s relationship and who was the higher of the 2. Finally, the 4 detectives put their variations apart to work collectively in saving homicide witness Julie (Téa Leoni) from French drug lord Fouchet (Tchéky Karyo) throughout the climatic shootout at Opa Locka Government Airport.

Following the occasions of Unhealthy Boys, Sanchez and Ruiz quietly disappeared with no hint. Whereas it’s unknown if actors Serrano and Mechoso have been supplied to return for Bad Boys II, their roles have been swapped with two youthful Hispanic detectives, Vargas and Reyes (Jason Manuel Olazabal and Yul Vazquez). Vargas particularly bears an analogous resemblance to Ruiz as a result of their respective receding hairlines. As Vargas and Reyes work with Mike and Marcus on the Tactical Narcotics Workforce (TNT), they’re extra collaborative with the principle heroes with out the antagonistic bantering as they examine the ecstasy dealings of Johnny Tapia (Jordi Molla).

The Darkish Destiny Of Sanchez And Ruiz

Between the 2nd and third installations, Mechoso tragically passed away from a heart attack in 2017, making Ruiz’s return to the franchise not possible. Paradoxically, after two installments being absent, Sanchez and Ruiz’s fates have been revealed in Journey or Die by means of a secret video made by Capt. Howard earlier than his deadly assassination in Bad Boys for Life. Whereas revealing particulars about his secret investigation right into a drug cartel affiliated with members of legislation enforcement, Howard explains that he saved Mike and Marcus off the case as a result of he pulled Sanchez and Ruiz out of retirement to work it as an alternative. Someway, their cowl was blown, ensuing of their premature deaths in a cartel automotive bombing.

This revelation raises the stakes for Mike and Marcus, who’re not the younger bucks that they have been in 1995 once they labored with the extra seasoned detectives. Each Unhealthy Boys for Life and Unhealthy Boys: Journey or Die look at how the companions cope with getting older and mortality whereas on the job. Studying of their elder colleagues’ shock murders off-screen solely heightens the stakes as Marcus almost succumbs to a coronary heart assault and Mike’s new spouse Christine (Melanie Liburd) will get kidnapped by the villains.

Legacy Characters Are By no means Protected In The Unhealthy Boys Franchise

The off-screen deaths of Sanchez and Ruiz additionally signify how the current Unhealthy Boys installments have been as daring in killing legacy characters as the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Other than Capt. Howard’s demise within the third installment, Journey or Die sees the stunning scene of fan-favorite laptop hacker Fletcher (John Salley) getting shot within the head by the villains whereas giving Capt. Howard’s video recordsdata to Mike and Marcus. Such stunning moments add to the chance that different lacking allies in Mike and Marcus’ orbit could also be secure, whether or not it’s Marcus’ sister Syd (Gabrielle Union) from Unhealthy Boys II or AMMO workforce member Rafe (Charles Melton) who was notably absent from Journey or Die.

Although Sanchez and Ruiz have been simply minor one-dimensional characters within the first movie, they laid the groundwork for each Unhealthy Boys film to function a last act climax the place Mike and Marcus want critical backup towards the villains in addition to so as to add the kind of bantering the viewers has seen with the duo and the younger members of the AMMO workforce. Their inclusion within the sequels might have supplied extra alternative to increase on their character improvement, because the franchise did for Capt. Howard. However having the reference to their tragic fates was a constructive reminder that their presence within the unique movie wouldn’t be forgotten.

Unhealthy Boys: Journey or Die is at present streaming on Netflix within the U.S.

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