Biker Boyz

Kid (Derek Luke) is a young hotshot trying to break into the world of illegal motorbike racing. He's desperate to beat Smoke (Laurence Fishburne) and take his crown as King Of Cali. Ever since Kid's father, Smoke's mechanic, died whilst watching a bike race, Kid has had a fearless, yet foolish passion to be the best.

From the outset, Biker Boyz feels like every sporting film that has been before. There's the young whippersnapper and the old hand; there's the angst of a prior death to contend with; there's friends to be made; there's respect to be found for rivals; there's a love interest with large breasts and a final showdown where everything ties up neatly. It's been done better so many times. It's been done worse as many times.

Biker Boyz is straight down the middle average. Nothing deserves to be called good, nothing deserves to be called bad. The direction, the script, the acting, all are average. Laurence Fishburne and Djimon Hounsou, in particular, should have given us more than average performances, but they don't. Kid Rock could have been expected to give a weak cameo, but he achieves the heady heights of average. Even the numerous stunts don't get the excitement going as much as they could. They're impressive and competently done, but you won't be grabbing anyone and telling them to "Watch this bit; it's so cool."

Feel free to give Biker Boyz a go, but you might be better off reading Hunter S. Thompson's book about his time with the Hell's Angels, instead.