The motorcycle racing drama One Fast Move is writer-director Kelly Blatz’s sophomore feature effort. It stars K.J. Apa as Wes, who has just been released from a military prison after six months due to illegally street racing his motorcycle. His mom is dead, so he sets out to find his father, a famed motorcycle racer. Wes finds the man, Dean (Eric Dane), in a small town with a high-profile racing track. Wes convinces his old man to coach him to become a true racer, but both men are stubborn, and the new freedom Wes has impedes his better judgment. Outside of his burgeoning career, Wes gets a job at a motorcycle shop owned by Abel (Edward James Olmos), Dean’s mentor. He also starts a relationship with local diner server Camila (Maria Reficco).
After being released from jail, things come very easily for Wes. It takes little convincing for Dean to train Wes. Abel meets the young man briefly and offers him a job at the shop right then and there. Camila agrees to a date almost immediately. Given this, it would seem the main character of One Fast Move is something of a Gary Stu (that is a male Mary Sue for those not in the know). While Wes achieves these because he’s charming and very capable on a motorcycle, it is keeping them that is the issue. He’s stubborn and hotheaded. He does not tell Camila about his past. Wes dances on eggshells with his absent father, never bringing up the pain he caused by walking away. This is where the drama lies, and while cliched at times, the characters are well-written, making their motivations clear and relatable.
“Wes convinces his old man to coach him to become a true racer…”
Apa is believable as the angry but charming lead. Dane is a reliable presence who makes the cliches of his part make sense and believable. Reficco is sweet and enticing, allowing all watching to understand what draws Wes to Camila. Olmos is as great as ever. He takes the mentor role and runs with it, reciting lessons/themes/values like they are the most natural thing on the planet. Austin North portrays a rival racer named Cody, and he is very despicable.
But One Fast Move is truly about the motorcycle races, so how are those? In real life, Blatz loves motorcycles quite a bit, and that shines through in every frame of this film. It is exhilarating when the camera flies down the track, keeping pace with the racers. The first race Wes wins is a thrilling sequence in which all watching feel the need for speed.
One Fast Move hits a number of cliches and tropes throughout its 106-minute runtime. But the characters have depth and are likable, so there’s still something at stake story-wise. The cast is solid and matches the high drama of the story nicely. But the reason for checking this film out is the racing. The races are elegantly shot, tense, and breathtaking. Blatz’s love of motorcycles and racing is on full display and proves fun to watch.
"…fun to watch."
