Early in A quick movementBiker Wes Neal (KJ Apa, unrecognizable from his days on Riverdale) is about to leave prison, and an officer informs him of the release process. He replies dryly, “When can I get my bike back?” That sets the tone for a fast-paced sports thriller about motorcycles and bad men. The first race, however, doesn’t come until halfway through the film. We first meet veteran biker Dean Miller (Eric Dane), Neal’s biological father who abandoned him as a child.

This is a potentially melodramatic premise, but A quick movement doesn’t allow any feelings. Neal doesn’t go to Dean because he wants a father, but to get his life back on track through motorsport. Dean doesn’t feel guilty and agrees to train Neal just because he’s a good biker.

What binds them together is not their relationship, but their shared passion for bikes. For the best part of the film, they’re just two men on bikes – and the emotional nuances of the father-son relationship are irrelevant. Throw in another father figure, Abel (Edward James Olmos, who exudes the energy of a wise grandfather), and we get plenty of funny one-liners.

For example, Dean looks at Abel and says, “He hasn’t had sex since Reagan was president,” to which Abel replies, “He hasn’t won a race since Bush was president, and I’m talking about the first one.” Simple dialogue, but effective nonetheless. The romantic aspect (with Maia Reficco in the role of Camila) is unnecessary, but also well done. Camila gets nice little touches, like not bringing her son near Neal after seeing him get violent once, or being amused every time a bike whizzes by, rather than just cheering Neal on.