Biker Boyz
Rated PG-13
Opening tomorrow in area theaters
Two reels out of four
In many ways, Biker Boyz is similar to The Fast and the Furious, the movie that made Vin Diesel a star. It’s a gritty but somewhat glorified look at an urban racing subculture on the West Coast. But the movie is not as good as its predecessor.
That could be because The Fast and the Furious is satisfied being what it is — basically a souped-up contemporary Roger Corman cult film. Biker Boyz, on the other hand, is too serious for its own good. Instead of simply trying to be The Fast and the Furious for bikers, the film throws in a little bit of everything, making for somewhat of a mess, albeit a pretty entertaining one.
Derek Luke plays Kid, whose father (Eriq La Salle) is the mechanic for Smoke (Laurence Fishburne), the leader of an African-American motorcycle club and the best damn rider around.
Months after his father is killed in a freak accident, Kid emerges to challenge Smoke to a race. But there are rules, and Kid must be a member of an accepted club before he can challenge Smoke and even then, it may never happen. Kid soon forms the Biker Boyz, eventually earning a reputation and the right to race Smoke.
If any further proof was needed of the dearth of good roles for African-American actors, I can’t think of a better example than Biker Boyz. In addition to Fishburne, the film boasts such talent as La Salle (ER), Djimon Hounsou (Amistad, Gladiator) and Lisa Bonet (Enemy of the State, Angel Heart). This movie is top-heavy with talent but I can’t say the same about the script.
Still, the movie is quite ambitious. Director Reggie Rock Bythewood has captured the milieu of the underground racing scene in a way that’s very credible and entertaining. The scenes flow and, as mentioned, the acting is quite good. Especially excellent is Vanessa Bell Calloway as Kid’s mom. Where Biker Boyz stalls is in its unwillingness to be a movie about professionals who are bikers by night. We have the relationship between Smoke and Kid. Then we have a love story that never gets developed. Then Smoke has a thing going on with another biker (Bonet). There are just way too many pieces of the puzzle that are either never explained or ignored altogether.
Yet the movie does have its charm for the undemanding. When it concentrates on the racing, it can be quite exhilarating. And there is an unforced sense of humor at work. In addition, I’d be happy just watching Fishburne read the phone book.
Biker Boyz is an interesting but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to put a unique spin on genre films. There’s no crime in breaking the mold and creating something new if you can pull it off. Biker Boyz doesn’t.
Sleepless in Seattle
Rated PG
With Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, why not a video to put you in the mood for romance? I figured I’d make a suggestion early because on Valentine’s Day, I hope you’ll be doing more than watching videos. Wink, wink, nudge. In the meantime, the wildly popular Sleepless in Seattle is a fine choice. Tom Hanks plays a widower whose son calls a radio show for the lovelorn seeking advice for his dad. Meg Ryan plays Annie, a journalist who is intrigued by the call. It seems the two might never meet, but destiny wins out. A charming and very funny love story for lovers of all ages.
