Amazon Prime Video is adding “The Ride” to its already growing roster of November titles. The true story of BMX icon John Buultjens is an examination of perseverance under the most daunting odds. For Buultjens the road to success in the extreme sports world came with a heavy dose of pain from abuse, neglect, and homelessness. While the film touches on those topics, it instead chooses to highlight the couple who saved him and the inspirational story that followed.
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In a twist worthy of any classic redemptive film, Buultjens credits “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” for igniting a love of BMX. The pro—like many children his age—found inspiration in the themes of freedom and neverending childlike wonder. “I was this little Scottish kid sitting in the cinema and I remember seeing these bikes flying. The freedom that it could give you stuck with me for the rest of my life. Even at that age, a bike represented the freedom I craved. You might not be able to fly with ET, but you could go anywhere, anytime you liked. Even now, as an adult, the bike still represents a huge amount of freedom,” Buultjens told UK’s The Guardian in a 2018 interview.
The Alex Ranarivelo helmed project also proves to be a vehicle for Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges. Best known for Universal’s “Fast and Furious” film series, Bridges’ work on ‘Ride’ may be career-changing as he expands past the franchise. The actor mindfully brings to life a father figure who values intelligence and work ethic over the world Buultjens was all too aware of when adopted. Bridges and actress Sasha Alexander are excellent counterparts for the real couple that “saved” the future extreme sports star. Along the way, the parental pair’s interracial romance confronts the racist world Buultjens knew before.
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“The RIde” also stars Shane Graham. The film hits Amazon Prime on November 13. Watch its final trailer below.