“Get your motor runnin’

Head out on the highway

Lookin’ for adventure

And whatever comes our way”

- “Born to Be Wild” (1968), Steppenwolf; Songwriter: Mars Bonfire

“First gear, it’s all right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)”

- “Little Honda” (1964), The Beach Boys; Songwriters: Brian Wilson, Michael Love

Neither song, “Born to Be Wild” or “Little Honda,” is on the soundtrack of “Bikeriders,” the movie about a fictional Chicago area outlaw motorcycle gang, The Vandals, during the 1960s.

“Born to Be Wild” and “Little Honda” capture the energy and fun that is all but lacking in “Bikeriders.”

One song on the soundtrack of “Bikeriders”’ encapsulates the movie:

“(He don’t hang around with the gang no more)

(He don’t do the wild things that he did before)”

- “Out in the Streets” (1965), The Shangri-Las; Songwriters: Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry

Female voices echo throughout the soundtrack of “Bikeriders,” evoking some of the few moments of compelling emotion in the movie.

You also don’t hear in “Bikeriders,” The Shangri-Las’ teen tragedy hit, “Leader of the Pack” (1964) by songwriters Ellie Greenwich, George Morton and Jeff Barry, and with the sounds of a revving motorcycle on the recording.

“Born To Be Wild” was on the soundtrack of the movie “Easy Rider” (1969) in a magnificent scene with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper with Jack Nicholson along for the ride.

A reference to “Easy Rider,” with its title on a movie theater marquee, is depicted near the end of the movie, “Bikeriders,” a reflection of the infamous scene near the beginning of “Bikeriders,” from the movie, “The Wild One” (1953) when Marlon Brando (Johnny) is asked, “What are you rebelling against, Johnny?” Johnny replies, “Whaddaya got?”

Austin Butler, as The Vandals’ acolyte gang member Benny is no Marlon Brando in “Bikeriders.” He’s more Johnny Depp.

Tom Hardy is more the keeper of the Marlon Brando flame in “Bikeriders” as Johnny, leader of the pack of The Vandals outlaw motorcycle gang. Hardy is also channeling Marlon Brando in “The Godfather” (1972). The dynamics of The Vandals as represented in the “Bikeriders” screenplay give a sense of ultimate non-biological patrimony.

The most memorable dialogue in “Bikeriders” is from that scene from the iconic movie, “The Wild One.”

So, “Whaddaya got?” in “The Bikeriders”?

The lore of motorcycles in and around “Bikeriders” is more interesting than the movie itself, which yearns to be “The Wild One” and “Easy Rider” rolled into one.

The “Bikeriders” is no “The Wild One.”

“The Bikeriders” is no “Easy Rider.”

How could it be?

“Bikeriders” is based on a 1967 book of photographs of the same title, mostly black and white photos, taken by Danny Lyon, of an actual motorcycle club, The Outlaws, some of which are shown at the conclusion of “Bikeriders.”

“Bikeriders” is a hybrid movie. It’s a documentary film posing as narrative fiction.

“Bikeriders’ is framed through the interview device of the young photographer, Danny Lyon (Mike Faist), taking photographs of a fictional outlaw motorcycle gang, The Vandals.

Mostly though, in the “Bikeriders,” with tape recorder microphone in hand, Lyon interviews Kathy (Jodie Comer), Benny’s girlfriend and wife. As she drawls in what sounds like a Jersey Girl gum-chewing accent, she recounts the days and nights in the lives of The Vandals, scenes of which are shown in flashback.

A movie framed by an interview format is a cinematic device used to great effect in director Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” (1941).

“Bikeriders” director Jeff Nichols is no Orson Welles. Who could be?

So, “Whaddaya got?” in “The Bikeriders”?

You’ve got a film that is three-quarters pantomime.

At times, I felt that was watching motorcycle gang scenes from “Beach Blanket Bingo” (1965). Where’s Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck), when you need him?

Despite writer-director Jeff Nichols (director, “Loving,” 2016) good intentions, “Bikeriders” is a disappointment.

Nichols works with his long-time cinematographer Adam Stone to good effect. But the images are just that: images. The film never really roars off the screen like “The Wild One” or “Easy Rider.”

“Bikeriders” has a great soundtrack of blues, rhythm and blues, and rock songs, not all of which are well-known.

Jodie Comer (“The Last Duel,” 2021) holds her own in what seems to be the majority of the screen time.

Austin Butler (“Elvis,” 2022) makes the most of what is more of a supporting role.

Tom Hardy (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” 2015, perhaps the ultra, outré outlaw biker flick) can’t turn in a bad performance. He’s riveting.

The chapter of the Bakersfield, Calif., Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was arrested June 25 in a kidnapping, robbery and assault probe.

“Sonny” Barger Jr. (1938 - 2022), a founding member of the Oakland, Calif., chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, served 13 years in prison for a conviction of heroin trafficking and a conviction to bomb the clubhouse of a rival motorcycle gang, Barger was acquitted of murder and racketeering.

At the Altamont Free Concert in 1969, Hells Angels, hired to provide security, stabbed a fan to death during a confrontation over a gun during a performance by the Rolling Stones. The incident was part of the Maysles Brothers’ documentary “Gimme Shelter” (1970).

“Bikeriders,” which hints at the bleak future of outlaw motorcycle gangs, is more “BikeEnders” for the cinema’s outlaw motorcycle gang genre.

“Bikeriders,” MPAA rated R (Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.) for language throughout, violence, some drug use and brief sexuality; Genre: Crime, Drama; Run time: 1 hour, 52 minutes. Distributed by Focus Features.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Bikeriders” was filmed on location in Cincinnati, Ohio, from October to December 2022.

At The Movies: “Bikeriders” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office, July 12-14: “Despicable Me 4” continued at No. 1 two weeks in a row, $44.6 million in 4,449 theaters, $211.1 million, two weeks. 2. “Longlegs,” starring Nicolas Cage in a horror thriller, opening, $22.6 million in 2,510 theaters.

3. “Inside Out 2” dropped one place, $20.7 million in 3,815 theaters, $572.5 million, five weeks. 4. “A Quiet Place: Day One” dropped one place, $11.8 million in 3,378 theaters, $116.2 million, three weeks. 5. “Fly Me to the Moon,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, opening, $10 million in 3,356 theaters. 6. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” dropped one place, $4.4 million in 2,200 theaters, $184.8 million, six weeks. 7. “Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1” dropped one place, $2.4 million in 2,587 theaters, $27 million, three weeks. 8. “MaXXXine” dropped four places, $2 million in 2,370 theaters. 9. “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” dropped two places, $1.3 million in 2,137 theaters, $9.7 million, two weeks. 10. “The Lion King,” re-release, opening, $1 million in 1,330 theaters. 14. “The Bikeriders” dropped five places, $410,000 in 724 theaters, $20.3 million, four weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of July 14 is subject to change.

Unreel, July 19:

“Twisters,” PG-13: Lee Isaac Chung directs Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos in the Action, Adventure, Thriller. A retired tornado-chaser goes back to Oklahoma with new technology to track twisters.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of July 14 is subject to change.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes