Coverage:

Definition: Torque is a measure of how much a force acting on an object causes that object to rotate. Equipped with explosive chases, state of the art machinery and lots of ego, viewers will be all too familiar with Joseph Kahn’s "Torque." Producers of "XXX," "The Fast and the Furious" and "S.W.A.T" revisit the souped up, high-energy chase scenes, but this time have inserted sleek crotch rockets, cruisers and custom-made bikes. The screenwriter for "Torque" devises a story where Biker Cary Ford (Martin Henderson), returns from Thailand to reunite with Shane (Monet Mazur), the woman he left behind six months earlier. Fords flight was an attempt to avoid an FBI investigation that occurred when he came into possession of several motorcycles belonging to Henry (Matt Schulze), a mullet sporting drug dealer and leader of the Hellians biker gang. When Ford won’t return the bikes, Henry frames Ford with the murder of Junior, the younger brother of a motorcycle gang led by, Tre (Ice Cube). Predictably, Ford must outrun the FBI agent, Adam Scott, who is on his trail, while also eluding a vengeful Tre, and a drug dealer who wants his drugs back. This simple, albeit predictable plot culminates with a series of high-action, daredevil stunt chases. First time feature film director, but veteran music video director, Joseph Kahn’s style becomes evident at the motorcycle rally and rave, where throbbing music, sleek machines and scantily clad women are front and center in contrived shots that are reminiscent of music videos. Kahn attempts sonic realism in this film, as bikes speed by so fast skirts fly up in Marilyn grandeur, and the air reverberates with distortion. It is easy to be excited with this kind of action, but little detracted from a clichéd script and weak characters. Still, there is enough action to attract the movie’s core audience of young males.