High-Ballin' (1978)

As you no doubt know, the 1970s produced a number of American good ol' boy movies involving truckers. This particular one is somewhat different, because it had significant Canadian involvement, in order to take advantage of a tax shelter system that existed there at the time. If you are thinking that the end results are a kind of mishmash between two cultures, you are right. The movie often feels kind of strange, not coming across as either Canadian or American in tone or appearance. But the feel of the movie is not really one of the big problems with the movie. While other good ol' boys movies of this era were packed with action, there is very little action here, and what little there is happens to be choreographed and directed in a manner that's more often than not slow and sluggish. And while other good ol' boys movies had a lot of comic relief, the little humor in the movie is lame and passionless. In fact, the other parts of the movie also share a great lethargic feel. Maybe it was from the fact that most of the movie was shot in the cold Canadian winter (though strangely there are some scenes where there is no trace of snow anywhere on the ground.) Movies like this killed off Peter Fonda's drive-in career.

A group of hijackers are harassing truckers. Iron Duke (Jerry Reed), and Pickup (Helen Shaver) are two of the independents worried about the situation as well as being pressured to sell by the ruthless trucking boss King Carroll. Visiting stunt driver Rane (Peter Fonda) is riding shotgun with his friend Duke when they are attacked.This is a Canadian action exploitation B-movie. The plot is pretty simple elevated by solid actors. Its action is reminiscent of gonzo Australian B-movies. There is a good amount of destruction. Camera work is not that imaginative but effective enough for the era. At various points, it takes its sweet time which is unhelpful in an action thriller. Overall, it's not aiming that high and it mostly its target.

This movie is made for truckers in the day of having long hauls, long distance traveling, and suddenly, there are hijackers in the wait. Life is a gamble, especially in the trucking field. Being an independent contractor is one thing, working for a big company is another. It's best to stick with strong friends when you back's against the wall. Jerry Reed, fresh from the first "Smokey and the Bandit" get to ride the big rigs again. This time, he's a struggling trucker who gets to stand up to the big boss of a trucking company who is forcing the independents off the roads and drive them out of business. King Carroll(Chris Wiggins) runs a big company who will do anything to keep the indies off the road. When one of the truckers(Lex Tyrell) is head of a hijacking ring for Carroll. He had one trucker jumped. And when a former stuntman named Rane (Peter Fonda) , joins the Iron Duke (Reed), along with Pickup(Helen Shaver) the back up is all here. This movie is more like a western, only with diesel "horses". There was a lot of action there. Some silliness added though, but I enjoyed it very much. This movie is for truckers. 2 out of 5 stars.

I can't see why people are downing this movie because it doesn't really fit in a genre like Action or Comedy. This is a movie, it tells a story, and some parts are funny, there is some action, there are some serious moments and it is a little dark. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll see some action.Overall it's a story about a big trucking company trying to squash the independent truckers out of business with Jerry Reed and Peter Fonda fighting against The Man for all the colorful, CB jive talking' independents out there.The main problem with the movie, in my eyes, is the dreary and bleak scenery and Jerry Reed's overuse of "Son" as a form of address. There are some parts of the plot that are weak and not well explained, like the female lead "Pick Up". She eats at truckstops with the truckers and is on the CB and acts like a trucker but she just drives a pick up truck with exhaust risers and a camper on back. What is her job? Just cruisin' the highways pretending to be a trucker? She almost seems like a trucker groupie/wannabe, a step up from a lot lizard. Also not clear is why the big trucking company wants the independent drivers to quit and start working for the big company. The independents still haul loads for The Man and have to pay his fees. It is never really made clear.This movie was entertaining all the way through the only real downer was the scenery. Wherever they are up in Canada is dirty, snowy and downright depressing.If you like trucker movies and Jerry Reed, give it a spin. It isn't as awesome as Convoy it still is a good view.