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Biker Boyz

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Biker Boyz
Theatrical release poster
Directed byReggie Rock Bythewood
Written by
  • Craig Fernandez
  • Reggie Rock Bythewood
Based on"Biker Boyz"
by Michael Gougis
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGreg Gardiner
Edited by
Music by
  • Camara Kambon
Production
company
Distributed byDreamWorks Pictures
Release date
  • January 31, 2003 (2003-01-31) (United States)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$24 million[1]
Box office$23,510,601

Biker Boyz is a 2003 American sports action drama film directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood and written by Bythewood and Craig Fernandez, based on the 2000 New Times LA article of the same name by Michael Gougis. The film is about a group of underground motorcycle drag racers and the intense rivalry between a legendary motorcyclist and a young racing prodigy who has formed his own biker club.

The film features an ensemble cast including Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Meagan Good, Djimon Hounsou, Brendan Fehr, Rick Gonzalez, Larenz Tate, Terrence Howard, Orlando Jones, Salli Richardson, and Kid Rock.[2] It also features Lisa Bonet, and Vanessa Bell Calloway.

Biker Boyz was released on January 31, 2003 in the United States by DreamWorks Pictures.

Plot

In the world of underground motorcycle drag racing, the undefeated racer known as Smoke (Laurence Fishburne) is the undisputed "King of Cali". But Smoke's dominance of the set is about to be threatened by a young motorcycle racing prodigy called Kid (Derek Luke), who is determined to win Smoke's "crown" and earn the coveted title. Kid says that the difference between men and boys are the lessons they learn - and that his father, Slick Will (Eriq La Salle), taught him plenty.

Kid, a novice rider and motorcycle club "prospect," has been assisting his father, Slick Will, as they prepare Smoke's bike for an evening of drag races. One biker issues a challenge to Smoke, who accepts, and the race begins. In the midst of the race, the other biker suffers a hydraulics malfunction and spins out of control, sending his bike flying from under him into a row of parked bikes, one of which heads right into Slick Will, throwing him through a store window and killing him instantly.

At Slick Will's funeral, dozens of bikers from the "Black Knights", to whom the late Will was the mechanic, show up with Smoke, who drops a single rose and a signed Black Knights flag into his grave. Six months later, Kid is now a familiar racer with his own custom-powered bike. His first "race" being when he interferes in a dangerous challenge with Donny (Tyson Beckford).

As Kid interrupts the race, he pulls off several stunts, notably standing on top of the motorcycle while it is still moving. He wins the race and the crowd seem to like his stunts, much to the dissatisfaction of Smoke. Kid demands to race with Smoke but the latter says he is too inexperienced and that Kid should get experience first.

Kid goes to a diner where he meets Stuntman (Brendan Fehr), and it is revealed that the two were hustling in the previous race. Fellow biker Primo (Rick Gonzalez) tells them to create a bike club; after a bit of persuasion they agree, and Kid goes to the biker jury consisting of 8 leaders of the most powerful biker gangs, where Smoke is the chairman. He apologizes for his disrespect towards Smoke and they all agree to verify the club, calling themselves "Biker Boyz".

Kid is set to race Motherland (Djimon Hounsou) to prove himself to Smoke. However, he has showed up late to "make an entrance" after Smoke has already beaten his long-time rival Dogg (Kid Rock), who is continually after Smoke's helmet. Kid is arrested when racing Motherland and the rest of the bikers manage to escape. Kid's mother Anita (Vanessa Bell Calloway) confronts him, threatening to evict Kid from her house if he races again.

One night at a Black Knights dance, Kid is challenged to race Dogg and accepts in a fit of rage. Having overheard, Anita finds Smoke before the race and demands that he stop it. Angry, Smoke confronts Anita and demands a reason where she tells him that Kid is actually his son, not Slick Will's.

Smoke successfully stops the race by punching out Kid and stealing his keys, but this only leads to a fight between the two, from which Kid comes off considerably worse than Smoke. Smoke then tells him that he is his son, to which Kid angrily goes home and confronts Anita, who confesses that it's the truth. Enraged, Kid leaves and moves in with his girlfriend Tina (Meagan Good). Kid soon decides to turn renegade and, after gaining quite a few more followers for his club, announces that "we're gonna win more lids than any crew on the set and we're gonna out hustle every crew off the set" and indicates that from that point on, "Biker Boyz set their own rules."

The Biker Boyz get their own hangout and begin hustling several races, but when Stuntman successfully hustles the nephew of a dangerous biker, he and Primo are ambushed at a party. Kid comes to the rescue but is quickly overpowered as the leader of the other club pulls a gun on him; Smoke and some of the other Black Knights intervene and convince the other bikers to stand down. Smoke takes Kid inside and sits down to give him a stern talking-to, but Kid shrugs it off angrily. Aggravated, Smoke finally agrees to race Kid, under the condition that whoever loses will never race again; but first Kid has to race Dogg - this time, at the track.

On the race track, everybody shows up, including the Black Knights. At the race, Dogg and Kid race down, and Kid is going to win, but Dogg plays dirty and causes him to crash; although Kid survives, his bike is wrecked. Later that day, Smoke talks to Kid, and informs him that the authorities are going to close the track, due to many crashes, but he managed to rent a local farm outside of town to race on it. Kid agrees to arrive the next day.

Later that night, Kid, Primo, and Stuntman are trying unsuccessfully to fix Kid's bike until Dogg's crew arrives to confront them, but Dogg's mechanic admits that the damage is too severe to be fixed in time for the race. Dogg informs Kid; "There are only 2 bikes as strong and fast as Smoke's: yours, and mine." As a peace offering, Dogg offers to lend Kid his bike, but only if Kid promises him that he will beat Smoke tomorrow.

On the day of the race, both the crew of the Black Knights and the Biker Boyz arrive. Smoke wants it to be a fair race, with no nitrous oxide system, and Kid wants Tina to start the race. Smoke and Kid are racing on a farm with open fields. With the finish line in sight, it is obvious that Smoke will win - however, filled with emotions, he decides to slow down and let his son win the race, becoming the new "King of Cali".

Kid tells Smoke to hang onto his crown for a while, and that he'll come and get it someday. He then rides off, repeating his sentiment that the difference between men and boys are the lessons they learn, and that his father taught him plenty.

Cast

Development

Biker Boyz is based loosely on Manuel "Pokey" Galloway the president of Valiant Riders of Pasadena, Ca.

Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Orlando Jones, Djimon Hounsou and Nicholas Sheriff, Lisa Bonet, Brendan Fehr, Larenz Tate, Terrence Howard, Kid Rock, Rick Gonzalez, Meagan Good are all avid bikers in real life.[3]

The real "King Of Cali" made a cameo appearance in the film, in the scene where Kid is in a meeting with the set.[3]

Slick Will really doesn't blink as the bike hits him, as Soul Train states.

Actual motorcycle clubs were on the set as technical advisors, and performed some of the tricks, stunts, and racing. They include Valiant Riders, The Mighty Black Sabbath Motorcycle Club Nation, G-Zer Tribe, Ruff Ryders, Soul Brothers, Total Package, Chosen Few MC, Rare Breed, Brothers of the Sun, Sisters of the Sun, Deuces, and Black Sabbath New Breed.[3]

The Biker Boyz jackets were in part inspired by Nexxunlimited Entertainment (as shown in the end credits).

Soundtrack

Main article: Biker Boyz (soundtrack)

A soundtrack containing hip hop, rock and R&B music was released on January 23, 2003 by DreamWorks Records. It peaked at #98 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Reception

Critical response

The movie received generally negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 23% based on reviews from 91 critics. The site's consensus states: "Waste of a good cast. For a movie about bike racing, it never gets up to speed."[4] Metacritic gives the film a score of 36% based on reviews from 27 critics.[5]

Box office

The film earned a worldwide total of $23.5 million.[1]

Home media

The film was released on DVD & VHS on June 10, 2003 in North America, and on DVD in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2004.

References

  1. ^ a b http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bikerboyz.htm
  2. ^ "Biker Boyz big cast". blackfilm.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c These facts can be verified with the DVD's bonus features.
  4. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/biker_boyz/
  5. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/movie/biker-boyz
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