EASY RIDER: THE RIDE BACK is undoubtedly one of the worst sequels in film history, an indie production that has very little in common with the iconic cult original. This time around, we're in prequel territory with very poor, wooden actors playing characters engaged in family drama. It's slow and mundane, entirely creaky and rough around the edges, and you have to wonder what on earth persuaded the likes of Jeff Fahey and Rance Howard to appear. The guy playing Peter Fonda is the worst thing here. I had to switch it off, it's that bad.
10 Reviews
The Captain America bike couldn't even save this crap.
mike-213-1629561 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Wrote this review 4 years ago for another site but forgot to upload it here. Is it a spoiler to let someone know it sucked?
Easy Rider: The Ride Back. My thoughts; Editing - Bad. Directing - Bad. Music - Bad. Acting - Bad. Camera Work - I think someone bought a dolly and thought they knew how to use it after reading the manual. Story - Made no sense. The ending was the best part since it meant the movie was over and it was horrible! It's like they found everyone that made all the bad biker movies in the sixties, brought them all together, and told them to make a bad motorcycle movie and they took it literally. Awaste of 1 hour and 38 minutes of time. Going to erase it from my hard drive so it doesn't waste my drive space. I give it 2 stars and that's only because of the Captain America Chopper. Still the best looking chopper ever built. Without that I would give it -2 stars. This movie sucked, big time!
Easy Rider: The Ride Back. My thoughts; Editing - Bad. Directing - Bad. Music - Bad. Acting - Bad. Camera Work - I think someone bought a dolly and thought they knew how to use it after reading the manual. Story - Made no sense. The ending was the best part since it meant the movie was over and it was horrible! It's like they found everyone that made all the bad biker movies in the sixties, brought them all together, and told them to make a bad motorcycle movie and they took it literally. Awaste of 1 hour and 38 minutes of time. Going to erase it from my hard drive so it doesn't waste my drive space. I give it 2 stars and that's only because of the Captain America Chopper. Still the best looking chopper ever built. Without that I would give it -2 stars. This movie sucked, big time!
Don't spend any money on this movie
catdogmanfish11 January 2021
Where do I start?
1. This movie has essentially nothing to do with Easy Rider. They just use some of the character names.
2. They insert extremely dated movie tropes in order to try and up the tension, like the dad having world war II PTSD episodes.
3. This is shot so poorly that a kid with a camera purchased at Walmart could make as good a quality film.
4. They try and recreate iconic Easy Rider scenes like sleeping on the ground (at these guys' ages) pretty much everyone is advanced in years so they can tie it in to the original so I'm not sure who this movie is intended for.
5. The music in the original was iconic, the music in this film sounds like a pornographic movie.
6. Voice overs that if anything make you less invested in the film.
7. This movie plays less like counterculture and more like a bunch of old geezers in a bar talking about how cool they used to be.
I always wait to finish the movie before writing a review, I'm writing this 28 minutes into the movie. It is terrible and I wish I could get my money back.
1. This movie has essentially nothing to do with Easy Rider. They just use some of the character names.
2. They insert extremely dated movie tropes in order to try and up the tension, like the dad having world war II PTSD episodes.
3. This is shot so poorly that a kid with a camera purchased at Walmart could make as good a quality film.
4. They try and recreate iconic Easy Rider scenes like sleeping on the ground (at these guys' ages) pretty much everyone is advanced in years so they can tie it in to the original so I'm not sure who this movie is intended for.
5. The music in the original was iconic, the music in this film sounds like a pornographic movie.
6. Voice overs that if anything make you less invested in the film.
7. This movie plays less like counterculture and more like a bunch of old geezers in a bar talking about how cool they used to be.
I always wait to finish the movie before writing a review, I'm writing this 28 minutes into the movie. It is terrible and I wish I could get my money back.
Not about the Motorcycles, and More of a Dramatic Bio of the ER Characters' Family
jhlui14 December 2013
This creation has little to do with the style, direction or intent of the original 1969 film.
It tries to explain in a rather technical and overly melodramatic way effectively how Wyatt and Billy ended up on the road in the first place. In doing that, each character is dissected and re-introduced from childhood on up, in a cinematic style that attempts to replicate some of the original's fragmented and flash-back style, but can't quite seem to keep the energy and story direction clear enough to attain a connection to the audience of any of the characters.
Jeff Fahey (Wes Coast) and Sheree J. Wilson (Shane Williams) are individually interesting to watch in their character's depth but it's hard to carry a full 90 minutes on the supporting roles.
The motorcycle riding scenes are decorative more than substantive to the story (similar to what you'd experience watching an advertisement from a manufacturer, sans a voice-over.) There are a plethora of many gorgeously restored antiques and collectibles thrown in scenes that are dropped in as just set decor, which doesn't portray the connection between their owners and the bikes. For a film that has a lot of biker characters, it seems odd that you never see any sweat, dirty hands, nor unpolished chrome throughout the story. Even the tires seem to get cleaned between scenes, even though being ridden on dirt back roads.
Technically, the locations and sets were well-developed, but there's very little tying those beautiful settings to what they mean to the characters (very similar to the bikes). Kind of like watching Clark Griswold having just arrived after days of driving at the edge of the Grand Canyon saying, "Gee, nice. Hey, let's get going to Wally World!" Ultimately it's hard to believe the development of the storyline - you are left wondering why each character went to the effort of overcoming whatever obstacle was thrown into their path by the script. They could have just turned away and had the story go in an organic direction, but instead from scene to scene, you can almost hear the actors' inner voices saying "Not sure why I'd do or say that... but, oh well, that's the way it's written." There was a LOT of time, energy and budget behind this film - that's apparent from the attempt to recreate 70 years of historical time-line locations, events and settings. Perhaps it was too much trying to tie together the back stories of 10 different characters, for that span of time, leading to the iconic pair that took to the road in Easy Rider (1969). I would have preferred a trimmed-down version of the story focusing perhaps simply on the father's anger and angst, the son's need to return, and the sister being caught in-between trying to understand why these polar opposites are a family, apart.
As presented, it strongly resembles a social media fan page for ER (1969) with fan-produced character fiction stories, photos and video clips posted to it, each one stating "Here's why I liked ER, and why I thought such-and-such happened."
It tries to explain in a rather technical and overly melodramatic way effectively how Wyatt and Billy ended up on the road in the first place. In doing that, each character is dissected and re-introduced from childhood on up, in a cinematic style that attempts to replicate some of the original's fragmented and flash-back style, but can't quite seem to keep the energy and story direction clear enough to attain a connection to the audience of any of the characters.
Jeff Fahey (Wes Coast) and Sheree J. Wilson (Shane Williams) are individually interesting to watch in their character's depth but it's hard to carry a full 90 minutes on the supporting roles.
The motorcycle riding scenes are decorative more than substantive to the story (similar to what you'd experience watching an advertisement from a manufacturer, sans a voice-over.) There are a plethora of many gorgeously restored antiques and collectibles thrown in scenes that are dropped in as just set decor, which doesn't portray the connection between their owners and the bikes. For a film that has a lot of biker characters, it seems odd that you never see any sweat, dirty hands, nor unpolished chrome throughout the story. Even the tires seem to get cleaned between scenes, even though being ridden on dirt back roads.
Technically, the locations and sets were well-developed, but there's very little tying those beautiful settings to what they mean to the characters (very similar to the bikes). Kind of like watching Clark Griswold having just arrived after days of driving at the edge of the Grand Canyon saying, "Gee, nice. Hey, let's get going to Wally World!" Ultimately it's hard to believe the development of the storyline - you are left wondering why each character went to the effort of overcoming whatever obstacle was thrown into their path by the script. They could have just turned away and had the story go in an organic direction, but instead from scene to scene, you can almost hear the actors' inner voices saying "Not sure why I'd do or say that... but, oh well, that's the way it's written." There was a LOT of time, energy and budget behind this film - that's apparent from the attempt to recreate 70 years of historical time-line locations, events and settings. Perhaps it was too much trying to tie together the back stories of 10 different characters, for that span of time, leading to the iconic pair that took to the road in Easy Rider (1969). I would have preferred a trimmed-down version of the story focusing perhaps simply on the father's anger and angst, the son's need to return, and the sister being caught in-between trying to understand why these polar opposites are a family, apart.
As presented, it strongly resembles a social media fan page for ER (1969) with fan-produced character fiction stories, photos and video clips posted to it, each one stating "Here's why I liked ER, and why I thought such-and-such happened."
Hopper & Fonda are spinning in their graves
GSK239 April 2022
OR, this film SENT them to their graves!
It's that bad.
Not just bad acting, but abysmal cinematography and even worse "directing" (if it can be called that). Yes, some clown exploited some legal loopholes to get the rights, but that shouldn't mean you should go ahead with this awful, horrible, demeaning, degrading and just utterly stupid sequel.
There certainly was talk about a sequel in 1969, and I'm pretty sure Fonda talked about it still possibly happening well into the 1980s; but even he was specific about WHY it would never happen: the script had to be 100%, but also the era was over. The vibe wasn't in the air anymore, MAN.
So why even make this? What KIND of "vanity" would ignore ALL warning signs and just keep forging ahead with what is now known as the stupidest sequel in the history of the known universe? What kind of person now lives with this daily since 2012? "Yes, I am that person that chose to ignore the obvious!"
Also, what kind of sad, out of work actor would overlook said signposts and accept this job? Shame on them all.
It's that bad.
Not just bad acting, but abysmal cinematography and even worse "directing" (if it can be called that). Yes, some clown exploited some legal loopholes to get the rights, but that shouldn't mean you should go ahead with this awful, horrible, demeaning, degrading and just utterly stupid sequel.
There certainly was talk about a sequel in 1969, and I'm pretty sure Fonda talked about it still possibly happening well into the 1980s; but even he was specific about WHY it would never happen: the script had to be 100%, but also the era was over. The vibe wasn't in the air anymore, MAN.
So why even make this? What KIND of "vanity" would ignore ALL warning signs and just keep forging ahead with what is now known as the stupidest sequel in the history of the known universe? What kind of person now lives with this daily since 2012? "Yes, I am that person that chose to ignore the obvious!"
Also, what kind of sad, out of work actor would overlook said signposts and accept this job? Shame on them all.
Not So Easy: A Ride of Flashbacks
thesar-230 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
"Stay with me: I need to make a sequel to one of the most influential and defining movie of multiple generations, but without the solid acting, excellent music, staple plot and pot or connection to the first one," must've been the pitch. And, incredibly, the studio head bought that.
Obviously, when someone wants to make a sequel to a decades-old and virtually untouchable film, most people would see disaster written all over it. And Easy Rider: The Ride Back is complete proof of that.
Granted, I had never seen the original until I heard about this one from the hilarious How Did This Get Made? podcast, and despite them telling me I didn't need to see the first one, I went ahead and made this a double feature especially since the first one's considered an all-time classic. They couldn't have been more right. This "follow-up" had about a one percent association with the first one and that was just because both contained motorcycles.
This movie, if you can call it that, was so incoherent, messy and amateurish calling it The Room on Wheels would be very kind. The sound was always off, the cardboard characters were instantly forgettable and unforgivable and the music was both a complete distraction and absolutely atrocious – and I'm not just comparing it to the first one, but even if one did, they'd shoot the director.
Basically, and mind you, I just finished watching this, I am guessing the movie is about a Vietnam deserter's long – make that overbearingly long – motorcycle ride home to see his disapproving father. Along the sad (for us, that is) journey, there are about 83 flashbacks to what seems to be another movie and the plot gets so convoluted, heavy, random, clichéd and includes about 12 or so main characters that I stopped trying to figure out who was who and never cared a split second about any of them. And this includes a woman who got raped. Her story arc (of many others) was far beyond the caring stage once introduced, so there wasn't even an emotional tie to her.
And this was all from a movie that's supposed to be a sequel to Easy Rider. This was as much a sequel as Halloween III: Season of the Witch was to the first two Halloween movies.
Mercifully, after watching 80+ mostly god-awful films to catch up on the How Did This Get Made? podcast, this was the last I'd see for a couple of weeks when the next podcast is published. Ranking them, this has to be in the top ten of those as the worst of the worst. It was unbearable at times to sit through this and no one whatsoever should see it. Ever.
At least with another road-trip movie, Thelma & Louise, they had the common courtesy to drive off the Grand Canyon when they knew they had nothing left to live for. We were NOT so lucky with the main characters here.
* * *
Final thoughts: Though I don't ride motorcycles, I can sense that keeping your mouth open for a cross-country trek isn't the smartest thing one can do on a bike. Enter Phil Pitzer, co-writer and star of this turkey and watch this man with his mouth agape the entire movie. Considering 60% of it is shot like an ad for Harleys on long, desert highways, it's entirely distracting and thoroughly disgusting watching his mouth open on the open road. Bad, bad choice for anyone who didn't stop him from doing that.
That said, one nice thing about his poor decision was that it did give me some hearty laughs and at least I got an ounce of entertainment, albeit unintentional, out of the film.
Obviously, when someone wants to make a sequel to a decades-old and virtually untouchable film, most people would see disaster written all over it. And Easy Rider: The Ride Back is complete proof of that.
Granted, I had never seen the original until I heard about this one from the hilarious How Did This Get Made? podcast, and despite them telling me I didn't need to see the first one, I went ahead and made this a double feature especially since the first one's considered an all-time classic. They couldn't have been more right. This "follow-up" had about a one percent association with the first one and that was just because both contained motorcycles.
This movie, if you can call it that, was so incoherent, messy and amateurish calling it The Room on Wheels would be very kind. The sound was always off, the cardboard characters were instantly forgettable and unforgivable and the music was both a complete distraction and absolutely atrocious – and I'm not just comparing it to the first one, but even if one did, they'd shoot the director.
Basically, and mind you, I just finished watching this, I am guessing the movie is about a Vietnam deserter's long – make that overbearingly long – motorcycle ride home to see his disapproving father. Along the sad (for us, that is) journey, there are about 83 flashbacks to what seems to be another movie and the plot gets so convoluted, heavy, random, clichéd and includes about 12 or so main characters that I stopped trying to figure out who was who and never cared a split second about any of them. And this includes a woman who got raped. Her story arc (of many others) was far beyond the caring stage once introduced, so there wasn't even an emotional tie to her.
And this was all from a movie that's supposed to be a sequel to Easy Rider. This was as much a sequel as Halloween III: Season of the Witch was to the first two Halloween movies.
Mercifully, after watching 80+ mostly god-awful films to catch up on the How Did This Get Made? podcast, this was the last I'd see for a couple of weeks when the next podcast is published. Ranking them, this has to be in the top ten of those as the worst of the worst. It was unbearable at times to sit through this and no one whatsoever should see it. Ever.
At least with another road-trip movie, Thelma & Louise, they had the common courtesy to drive off the Grand Canyon when they knew they had nothing left to live for. We were NOT so lucky with the main characters here.
* * *
Final thoughts: Though I don't ride motorcycles, I can sense that keeping your mouth open for a cross-country trek isn't the smartest thing one can do on a bike. Enter Phil Pitzer, co-writer and star of this turkey and watch this man with his mouth agape the entire movie. Considering 60% of it is shot like an ad for Harleys on long, desert highways, it's entirely distracting and thoroughly disgusting watching his mouth open on the open road. Bad, bad choice for anyone who didn't stop him from doing that.
That said, one nice thing about his poor decision was that it did give me some hearty laughs and at least I got an ounce of entertainment, albeit unintentional, out of the film.
Looking back (through the mirror?)
kosmasp6 March 2014
While this is a sequel it's also kind of a prequel, looking back on what happened before the Original "Easy Rider" (ER). Of course some people might feel offended just by that simple fact. And that impression will not fade with the beginning of the movie. Actually while there is a resemblance (haircut and the general look), the acting feels like a TV soap. And that is not good at all.
Fortunately Jeff Fahey comes along and the "fun" sort of begins. It elevates the movie a bit and it's almost a shame you don't get more of him and his character interaction. But it's more about, where were and were are we going (concerning the characters). There is still a lot of bike love and people who are fond of that will cherish those moments. For everyone else, it's not really that worth while, while not really bad either.
Fortunately Jeff Fahey comes along and the "fun" sort of begins. It elevates the movie a bit and it's almost a shame you don't get more of him and his character interaction. But it's more about, where were and were are we going (concerning the characters). There is still a lot of bike love and people who are fond of that will cherish those moments. For everyone else, it's not really that worth while, while not really bad either.
Story Line !!!!!!!
ctalburt-407398 October 2015
The way HOME has a great story line of Hickok's coming of age as of Morgan's coming of age. The story of how the 60's pulled families apart. I can see how the reviews were low on this movie because of the acting but the cinematography is wonderful, as well as an excellent soundtrack to portray a vivid and heart warming story of family, friends and times. Possibly you need to have been raised it this time line to fully understand. I highly recommend the viewing of this movie, if it doesn't effect your soul, then you are truly in trouble as a human being.
The attention to detail on the motorcycles is very good, even the blue Billy bike that Wes is riding is an exact replica except for the color. And the other vintage motorcycles makes the watch worth while.
I feel the lack luster of this movie was do to the director not being able to pull the best and most realistic performance from his actors. With better direction this could have been a top ten movie.
The attention to detail on the motorcycles is very good, even the blue Billy bike that Wes is riding is an exact replica except for the color. And the other vintage motorcycles makes the watch worth while.
I feel the lack luster of this movie was do to the director not being able to pull the best and most realistic performance from his actors. With better direction this could have been a top ten movie.
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