Enjoyable
garbage that plays like a cheapo version of the same year’s White Line Fever, this cheerfully
mindless actioner is about a young man who takes over his father’s
sole-proprietor trucking operation while exploring the mysterious circumstances
of his father’s death. Shot with the ugly lighting of spot-news coverage from
local television of the same era, Truckin’
Man suffers the usual blights of under-budgeted drive-in schlock. The
acting is dodgy, the narrative is trite, and the stunts are laughably
amateurish. Good thing the pacing is so zippy. Running just 81 minutes, Truckin’ Man (sometimes known as Trucker’s Woman) never has time to wear
out its welcome. More importantly, the film never aspires to be anything more
than disposable junk. The hero beats up bad guys, gets laid,
and spews cocksure dialogue. Add in the requisite amount of kitschy ’70s
clothing and décor, and you’ve got the ingredients for a craptastic viewing
experience.
After his father’s funeral, Mike Kelly (Michael Hawkins) starts
driving the family rig while poking around the trucking scene to see what’s
what. Jake Fontaine (Jack Canon) runs the local terminal like a Mafia boss,
pressuring drivers into bad deals and using violence to punish those who rebel.
Mike quickly identifies Jake as the bad guy. He also romances Karen (Mary
Cannon), only to discover that she is Jake’s daughter. Events proceed in a
predictable manner, and the closest the picture gets to idiosyncrasy is the supporting character who performs novelty songs filled with malapropisms. (Trivia Alert No. 1: That character is played by Sigourney Weaver’s uncle, Doodles Weaver. Trivia Alert No. 2: Future
TV/film notable Larry Drake portrays a morally conflicted galoot named “Diesel Joe.”) Oddball elements aside, Truckin’ Man mostly comprises a steady stream of
country tunes, macho posturing, and unimpressive stage combat, served with a
side of leisure suits and plaid blazers. That’s a ten-four, good buddy.
Truckin’ Man; FUNKY
1 comment:
Trivia Alert #3:
Michael Hawkins is the father of Christian Slater.
(Mother is long-time casting director Mary Jo Slater; Christian stayed with Mom.)
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