Rough'n'tumble independent truck driver Rubber Duck (Kris Kristofferson in sturdy macho form) encourages his fellow oppressed gear-jammers to make a stand against no-count corrupt Sheriff Lyle Wallace (robustly played with lip-smacking wicked aplomb by Ernest Borgnine) and the whole crooked system that he represents.Director Sam Peckinpah maintains an amiable lighthearted tone throughout (this is probably the lone Peckinpah film in which nobody gets killed), stages the action scenes with gusto (a hilarious slapstick bar fight and a climax that copies "The Wild Bunch" rate as the definite rousing highlights), and explores his trademark themes of loyalty, betrayal, integrity, nonconformity, and corruption in a rather messy, but overall hugely entertaining manner. Bill W. Norton's script might not be that subtle or complex, but still possesses an amusing streak of blithely anarchic humor as well as a strong subtext concerning rugged individuality versus the dirty and repressive status quo.Rubber Duck's fellow Diesel demons are a colorful and engaging bunch: Burt Young as scruffy wannabe ladies' man Pigpen, Franklyn Ajaye as the easygoing Spider Mike, Madge Sinclair as the sassy Widow Woman, Bill Foster as the grizzled Old Iguana, and Jackson D. Kane as the rowdy Big Nasty. Cassie Yates adds plenty of spark as sad-eyed truck stop waitress Violet, Seymour Cassel does well as the opportunistic Governor Jerry Haskins, and Brian Davies amuses as nerdy press representative Chuck Arnoldi. Ali MacGraw sports a ghastly poodle hairdo and a deep tan in a thankless nothing role. Harry Stadling Jr.'s crisp widescreen cinematography photographs the trucks in a striking way that makes them come across like powerful majestic beasts. The spirited score by Chip Davis hits the stirring spot. Best of all, the fierce camaraderie the truckers have for each other gives this movie a winning surplus of genuine heart and soul. An immensely fun flick.

A film of extreme silliness, degraded rather than elevated by its pretensions, this film finds the great director Sam Peckinpah at the end of his career and the nadir of his talent. Star Kris Kristofferson tries rather too hard to lend a mythic or larger-than-life air to the proceedings, while Ali MacGraw looks and acts weirdly out of place in this trucker fantasy. Most of the good scenes involve Kristofferson's rivalry with bad-guy cop Ernest Borgnine. There is a rousing bar fight about halfway through the film, the consequences of which lead to the formation of the titular "convoy" of semi-trucks.Rarely has the aimlessness and lack of inspiration of the "counter-culture" been on more effective display than in this film. While reaching for some kind of epic outsider/modern outlaw style, the film instead reveals the emptiness of its ideals. Unlike "Easy Rider", which is a flawed film but at least has some real heart, this film does not dwell on the void it has revealed, nor does it advance our poetic understanding of anti-heroes and outlaws. There's very little poetry in a semi-truck, and the film is too self-serious to indulge in the kind of outright farce that made the films of the late 70s with Burt Reynolds at least watchable.If you want to retain your positive feelings about Sam Peckinpah, best to skip this one. It's entertaining enough, if you watch it with a six pack and don't try to pay too much attention.

Truckers form a mile long "convoy" in support of a trucker's vendetta with an abusive sheriff (Ernest Borgnine and his amazing facial hair)... Based on the country song of same title by C. W. McCall.While the film will obviously be compared to "Smokey and the Bandit" (both featuring semi trailers being hounded by a sheriff), let it be known that they are not at odds and actually complement each other well (a good double feature, perhaps).Is Kris Kristopherson the same as Burt Reynolds? No. Is Ernest Borgnine the same as Jackie Gleason? Of course not. So it is sort of like the same story told in two different worlds. This one is a bit lighter on the comedy and much lighter on the romance.

More than 20 years ago my most favorite movie... and still has been! Has seen it multiple times. This movie is damn good, no modern movie won't even come close to it; very good acting from some very good actors and funny too. The raw action is good, the (true) racism against black people in Texas good displayed, the free spirit of the profession excellent displayed (pity nowadays it's just gone). Displays the real life of truck-drivers all over the world and their constant battle against corrupt and money hungry police agents who are, as most non-truck-drivers are, not loving truckers very much, despite they're merely human and doing only what they are (under)paid for, just like anybody else. A must be seen movie for all your truckers out there and wanna-be's! Haul a$$!