Great promise often falls short, and Biker Fox is one of these films. With his over-zealous nature and his almost constant homily on life, Biker fox is less of an inspirational tale of one man’s fight against adversity than it is repetitive and almost evangelical lesson on life.
Biker Fox is a fly on the wall documentary focusing on Frank P. DeLarzelere III, a Tulsa, Oklahoma resident and local eccentric who has become something of a cult hero. He has an immeasurable love of cycling and is known locally for his flamboyant protest against a sedentary America. Referring to himself solely in third person and only as Biker Fox we are taken into his world and shown his work, his passions, the adversities he faces and an awful, awful lot of cycling.
Biker Fox has been given a lot of control of the scenes featured in this film, and as an audience we are treated to some unique and innovative shots of his antics. There are some incredibly memorable scenes, particularly those in which he comes into conflict with motorists and his interaction with wild animals. Yet these moments of clarity and understanding are lost in the clouds, faced with a storm of unappealing and repetitive life lessons. His ‘life experiences’ are often repeated, sometimes several times and even the most interesting scenes are diminished when we’ve seen similar moments five or six times.
This feature has no rhythm and because of this, for me, it has no meaning. Biker Fox is clearly putting on a show throughout the film. He knows he’s being filmed and he is often in control of what is being shot. There are few moments of real vulnerability, and much of what we see and hear feels contrived in some way, not by the director (Jeremy Lamberton), but by Biker Fox himself. Biker Fox tries so hard to portray himself as a beaten, misunderstood hero that it feels false and untrue. Even in one of the more entertaining scenes in which Biker Fox screams and shouts at an inconsiderate and unsafe motorist, despite the motorist’s unruly behaviour Biker Fox’s showmanship and exaggerated reaction removes any sympathy or empathy the audience may feel. As a result the issues cyclists face which he is trying to highlight are not properly addressed.
There are a few glimpses of real vulnerability when he discusses his family, the homosexual jibes he faces each day and the moments he talks about those closest to him. Ultimately, Bike Fox is a man with a good heart is only trying to make a positive difference. It is this side of Bike Fox Lamberton is trying to show as well as the coping mechanisms he employs to hide them. Unfortunately the ambiguity of what this film is and the far too frequent pomp Biker Fox displays remove what could make Tulsa County’s most flamboyant resident, and this film, appealing.
Regrettably unimpressive and a struggle to finish; pockets of promise don’t rescue Biker Fox from becoming what is a clouded and unattractive vision.
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