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.

Reed and Fonda make a great combo in this truckin' action movie, you wouldn't want it any other way. Reed with a beard, so much resembles one of my Dad's friend's in this movie, it's almost uncanny, like in the way he answers people, especially in one response. Fonda, an ex truckie, a biker here of course, joins Reed on one last route, after a bit of friendly persuasion by Reed. Only this trip becomes one for survival. Truckies are being hijacked and robbed of their shipment and trucks, the players, are people in their own backyard, one a friend of a guy who gets in a fight with Fonda, the instigator, making a funny remark about his non use of roll on. The fight, where the players use irons is disappointing as it's over before it's even begun. The loser, if you can call him that, and it's not Fonda, was trying to crack on to female trucker, prior, a hot number (Helen Shaver) who really gave him a serve with her sweet talking mouth, while nibbling cutely on some jerky. Fonda becomes the hero, taking down this operation, one scene has him and Shaver surviving a shooting in a motel room. This is a fun adventure movie but a good drama too. Another scene where Reed, Fonda, and Reeds's little son, Tanker are being set upon by bad guys, firing bullets was compelling, where Fonda gets up on the second deck of the trailer at the back of the rig, and unhooks these cars, where they come flying back off the trailer into the path of the bad guys, one car making a backfire explosion which I thought was cool. Reed says to himself in the middle of all this chaos. "Oh boy, why couldn't I had a girl". It also had a good showdown between Fonda and his foe's mate, who holds Shaver at gunpoint. Also what was great, was we got to spend some time at home with Reed's family, which very much reminded me of when I was a kid and how I used to sit around the table, talking with Dad's friends. Even though this movie's dated, it's worth a look, another reason why American International Pictures was a cool movie company. Reed's performance here is impressive too.

Not much to see here. A couple guys swashbuckling with big Ken-Tool tire irons. At least this is a movie that accepts the existence of snow. Jerry Reed plays "the Iron Duke," a trucker who wants to make a few more runs and then stay at home. Peter Fonda perhaps should have played a trucker and not brought the biker element into this movie. After the chase with the racecar-laden auto transporter there isn't much to see. One memorable scene is Duke's poignant attempt to defend himself with nothing but a tire knocker. If you like trucker movies, it's your duty to watch High-Ballin' at least once, though. Isn't driving a truck in Canada exciting enough without a typical far-fetched plot? I guess the ultimate truck driving movie would have no plot at all and would be just one big roadeo.

When I was a little kid they had these Trucking driving country and western movies. The great smokie Road Block, Convoy, etc. Many years later I watched some of this crap on TBS, boy did I not miss much when my mother made me go to bed early. Well, I have gotten older and watched this dog on TBS, and I still could not keep awake. Some movies like a bad wine will turn into vinegar with time, and that is what this film is or at least a sleep aid. Keep on Trucking, I am happy I missed the 70's. 3/10