One Fast Move – A Subpar Racing Drama (Early Review)

One Fast Move is Prime Video’s newest underdog motorcycle racing drama where when dishonourably discharged solider Wes Neal (Apa) is released from a 6-month prison sentence, he seeks out his estranged father Dean (Dane) to help him pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer. While training he meets small town, aspiring singer Camila (Reficco) and motorcycle owner Abel (Edward James Olmos) who moonlights as a mentor and helps him begin to break down the walls his father’s absence had built up. The film, having all the right ingredients to make for a decent racing drama, is not without decent performances and some solid racing sequences, but it has a story audiences have seen a million times before and one that has consistently been told in better films than this.

Despite its issues, it is a watchable sports drama that clips by at a decent enough pace. While its racing sequences aren’t the most immersive or gripping, they’re still entertaining to watch. Apa and Dane have both given better performances in the past but they’re both make for somewhat compelling leads as an estranged father and son. Though they’re not always the most likeable characters, their strong chemistry will have many wanting to see them put aside their differences and work together. Meanwhile, Olmos, as Abel, is definitely the standout, delivering the best performance by a landslide. He gives the film the heart, and the emotion it desperately needed, and his scenes with Wes are amongst the best in the film.

That being said, on nearly every other level, it is a bit of a disappointment and just isn’t very good. The script is an absolute mess with some very unnatural dialogue, while featuring just about every trope and cliché in the book. The story is entirely predictable, to the point that audiences can see what is coming from a mile away. However, it is not entirely the cast’s fault, though it doesn’t help that the characters are mostly unlikeable, never allowing audiences the chance to become emotionally invested in the way that the story wants. Apa does as the lead, but makes for a bland protagonist because of his lack of emotional range. While not all Apa’s fault, the way Wes was written and the way he was directed to behave, as Dean goes from deeply unlikeable to mildly amusing within scenes from each other, getting old very fast.

Maia Reficco is worthy here as well, but Camila isn’t necessary to the story at all and the romantic subplot between her and Wes feels completely tacked on. Not only is it the worst part of the film, it doesn’t help that she and Apa lack the kind of chemistry needed for it to work, let alone be believable. Dealing with some pretty serious topics such as abandonment, fathers and sons, and staying clean, the film also takes itself way too seriously when it could have had a little more fun with itself, especially during its racing sequences. In the end, a lot of these issues could have been forgiven had its attempts at emotion actually worked, and it showed an attempt at having a heart. Ultimately, is is a very cold and emotionless tale, when the story is typically the exact opposite.

Though One Fast Move isn’t awful or anything like that, diehard motorcycle fans might get some enjoyment. However, there are infinitely better sports, or even racing, films out that are more suitable to watch again instead of this one. While it had the makings to be this year’s Gran Turismo. its lacks the heart, emotion, and most importantly, a compelling story with characters worth caring about.

still courtesy of Prime Video

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/