Bullet Points: Biker Boyz
Have you ever watched a movie and thought to yourself that you know exactly what the filmmakers were thinking when they created a movie? That happened to me recently when I watched the 2003 movie Biker Boyz. Biker Boyz takes an action packed look at the street racing motorcycle culture of California and was originally based on a magazine article. If that doesn’t sound familiar, let me remind you of the 2001 movie The Fast and the Furious which took an action packed look at the street racing automobile culture of California and was originally based on a magazine article. So Biker Boyz is not unique, and didn’t have the staying power of its four wheel cousin, but that doesn’t mean it is not worth watching. Luckily, I have some Bullet Points for Biker Boyz, just don’t forget to burn rubber not your soul.
- All In The Family – Biker Boyz opens up with several biker gangs having a good old time racing bikes and just hanging out. Then come the Black Knights with the top dog and fastest racer, Smoke (Laurence Fishburne, Fled). The entrance is an incredible spectacle complete with choreography and a hype man named Soul Train (Orlando Jones)… except that Smoke is sitting on his bike in the back of a truck. Not off to a good start, Biker Boyz. Smoke’s top lieutenant and mechanic is Slick Will (Eriq La Salle). The two are like brothers, but Slick Will’s son Kid (Derek Luke) does not like how Smoke gets all the credit and Slick Will does all the dirty work. Luckily for Slick Will, he doesn’t have to worry about Kid’s problems much longer because Slick Will gets a crotch rocket to the face in a motorcycle drag race accident. No ER doctor was able to help Eriq La Salle after that accident.
- Kid Stuff – Kid struggles with the death of his father and his dislike for Smoke grows larger. Kid is a pretty fast racer in his own right, and soon calls out Smoke. One problem, Kid needs to have some colors in order to race. (Having colors means that you are part of a gang.) Kid teams up with his friends Stuntman (Brendan Fehr) and Primo (Rick Gonzalez) and they form the Biker Boyz… just like the title! The Biker Boyz go around hustling other gangs in races in order to get some money and soon get more and more boyz.
- It’s All Good – A movie with some familiar drama is not worth its salt without a little romance and Biker Boyz does not disappoint. In fact Biker Boyz brings out Megan Good as Tina, the love interest for Kid, Lisa Bonet as Queenie, the love interest for Smoke, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Half & Half, the love interest for… she actually is more interested in the ladies that I already mentioned. There is a bike wash scene that has something for everyone’s interests.
- Motorcycles Have Room for Cliches – Who doesn’t love action movie cliches? Action movie bar fight? Biker Boyz has it. Training montage? Biker Boyz has it and ups the stakes by turning it into a rap video style montage in the clubhouse complete with a biker last supper mural. Actors that don’t belong in an action movie but are in an action movie? How about you try on Kid Rock as Dogg for size. Characters with a disability to make sure everyone is included? Let’s just put Kadeem Hardison’s character T.J. in a wheelchair and have him wear an eye patch… sounds good to me.
Biker Boyz has lots of things in it that aren’t unique and has a storyline that is not too hard to see coming, especially the ending that features a wrestling-esque “loser must quit” stipulation. Honestly, the sappy, contrived ending was the biggest problem and not a surprise to anyone who has ever seen a movie, but dammit if it doesn’t get to me emotionally every time. What Biker Boyz does have is some exciting motorcycle action that is not normally seen in films. There are plenty of action movies with Harleys and Hells Angels style gangs, but not too many with racing bikes and Biker Boyz features a cast who did a lot of their own riding, Laurence Fishburne in particular is an avid motorcycle enthusiast. If you are looking for something special and different, Biker Boyz might not be the best choice, but if you want a movie that is entertaining and you like motorcycles then Biker Boyz is a perfect choice. If you are looking for a little bit more than you are in luck because I have some Bonus Bullet Points.
- True Action – Biker Boyz was based on an article written for New Times by Michael Gougis.
- Best Potentially Offensive Nickname – All the bikers have nicknames and while Half & Half would win in most movies, the award goes to Djimon Hounsou’s character Motherland.
- If You Ever… – wanted to see Megan Good tattoo a name on another girl’s ass then Biker Boyz is for you.
- Best Quote That Was Not Said As A Joke… But It Is – “Do you know what we call bikers in the ER? Organ donors.”
- Familiar Faces – Biker Boyz is packed with familiar faces like Titus Welliver as a chopper style biker gang member, Tyson Beckford and Larenz Tate as bikers, and even Ruffio himself Dante Basco (along with his real life brother Dion Basco) as a member of the Biker Boyz.
