‘One Fast Move’ Movie Review: Flashy Presentation Lacks Depth

The film feels like riding a bike that’s perfect for off-roading but completely loses control as soon as it hits the pavement.

At the beginning of *One Fast Move*, biker Wes Neal (KJ Apa, looking quite different from his days on *Riverdale*) is just about to be released from prison, and an officer is explaining the discharge process to him. His dry response, ‘When can I get my bike back?’ sets the stage for a thrilling ride filled with bikes and tough characters. However, the first race doesn’t take place until the film is halfway through. We’re introduced to veteran biker Dean Miller (Eric Dane), who happens to be Neal’s estranged father, having left him when he was a child. While this setup could easily dive into melodrama, *One Fast Move* avoids heavy emotions. Neal seeks out Dean not for a father figure but to reclaim his life through motorsport. Dean shows no remorse and agrees to train Neal solely because he recognizes him as a skilled biker. Their bond is rooted in their mutual love for biking rather than any familial ties. In one of the film’s strongest segments, we see them simply enjoying the ride together, making the emotional complexities of their father-son relationship feel secondary. Adding another father figure, Abel (Edward James Olmos, radiating wise grandpa vibes), brings in some humor with clever one-liners. For instance, Dean quips about Abel, ‘He hasn’t been laid since Reagan was president,’ to which Abel retorts, ‘He hasn’t won a race since Bush was president, and I mean the first one.’ These straightforward dialogues work surprisingly well. The romantic subplot involving Maia Reficco as Camila, while not essential, is executed nicely. Camila adds depth by keeping her son away from Neal after witnessing his violent side and showing genuine amusement whenever a bike zooms by, rather than just cheering for Neal.

KJ Apa performs well within the limited range of his character, but it’s Eric Dane who truly shines in the film. He captures the essence of Dean, a self-absorbed aging biker who takes pleasure in his own inflated sense of importance. The film introduces an interesting dynamic, as the characters tend to overlook their personal struggles, with biking being their sole focus. It’s only after Neal secures his first victory that Dean acknowledges him as his son.

These characters are portrayed as emotionally detached men, and as the story progresses, it starts to feel repetitive. The narrative drifts into familiar sports drama territory, where the stunts feel rather average and the father-son themes become predictable. Each character grapples with some version of ‘daddy issues.’ While the absence of heavy drama works during their casual interactions and rides, the film loses its momentum once the conflicts and emotional breakdowns begin.

The climax does deliver a somewhat unexpected twist. Instead of a typical father-son reconciliation, we get a moment that aligns perfectly with Dean’s character, leaving viewers with a smile. However, *One Fast Move* could have benefitted from more of these surprising moments. It’s reminiscent of riding a bike that excels off-road but falters when it hits the pavement.