Abysmal, humourless film that takes its tedious father-son dramatics far too seriously – basically, it’s Antwone Fisher On Wheels.

Biker Boyz was inspired (if that’s the word) by an article in the New Times by Michael Gougis, about the world of African-American motorcycle clubs in Southern California.

Should Have Been Good…

As such, it ought to have been a trashy, fun, exploitative ‘B’ picture of the sort that Roger Corman might have churned out in his heyday. At the very least, it should have emulated The Fast And The Furious and injected some humour into the proceedings.

Unfortunately, someone decided it would work better as a serious drama about an estranged father and son and the only remotely funny thing about it is the director’s name (Reggie Rock Bythewood).

Laurence Fishburne plays “Smoke”, the undefeated champion racer of an underground African-American motorcycle club. After the death of his best friend, Smoke finds his position challenged by the son of his friend, “Kid” (Derek Luke, who played Antwone Fisher). And then his discovers that ‘Kid’ is The Son He Never Knew He Had.

The acting is pretty depressing. Fishburne lends the film a crushing air of Serious Actor gravitas it neither needs nor deserves and Luke basically reprises his Antwone Fisher role as the Angry Young Man. It even manages to waste Orlando Jones, who can usually be relied on for a laugh or two.

In short, a complete waste of time. See 2 Fast 2 Furious instead.