Kid Rock and Lawrence Fishburne in 'Biker Boyz'

Biker Boyz stars Lawrence Fishburne as Smoke, leader of the Black Knights motorcycle club and undefeated street racer AKA "King of Cali." In a theme as old as Shakespeare, or at least Star Wars, uneasy lies the head that wears the fancy helmet. Smoke's iron grip on his racing crown is threatened as never before by a new kid on the scene named, appropriately enough, Kid (Derek Luke). Kid is the son of Smoke's mechanic who is killed early on by a flying motorcycle while standing on the sidelines of a race. Some brothers just never learn to duck. Anyway, after seeing his pops die tragically, Kid vows to become the racer his father never thought he could be. He forms his own club (The Biker Boyz) and challenges Smoke to a one-time winner-take-all race that will determine whose machine and rider reigns supreme for all time, forever and ever, or at least until the sequel.

Director Reggie Rock Bythewood's high-octane handiwork, based on a New Times article by Michael Gougis, would barely add up to a decent Fastlane episode were it not for the hardboiled acting of Fishburne and Luke. Not to mention an accomplished cast including Orlando Jones (Evolution), Lisa Bonet (Angel Heart), and Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator), all of whom manage to keep the plot from crossing the line from timeless to clichéd. In an oddball casting coincidence, Biker Boyz stars another Kid, rock rapper Kid Rock as Dogg, the leader of the Strays motorcycle club. While Rock delivers his lines clearly and doesn't fall off his motorcycle, he might not want to quit his night job just yet.

Meanwhile, keeping things lively at the Black Knights Bikini Bike Wash, when the standoffs between Smoke, Kid and Dogg grow tiresome (approx. every twelve minutes) and you start to wonder how these guys pay for their bikes and bets without going to work, an army of stunt riders tears up the screen with enough two- and even one-wheeled action to keep your eyes straight ahead even if you wanted to look at your watch.

As chopper flicks go, Biker Boyz isn't nearly as untamed as The Wild One or Wild Angels, or as hairy a good time as Werewolves on Wheels. But aside from a disappointing warm-and-fuzzy ending, Biker Boyz still serves up nearly two hours of adrenaline-enriched junk food for the soul, guaranteed to satisfy most members of the Fast and Furious generation.