Review of Breakdown (1997) by Leanne K — 24 Mar 2009

Billy: You the fella looking for his wife?

A damn good thriller that cuts off most of the fat and keeps everything moving. Its well made and stars Kurt Russell, suspend a little disbelief and you can have an exciting time.

Russell plays Jeff, a man taking a cross country road trip with his wife, played by Kathleen Quinlan, who begins the worst day of his life with his car breaking down in a desert area in the southwest. A truck arrives with seemingly good intentions. The driver gives Jeff's wife a ride into town, while Jeff waits for a tow truck.

More problems arise once Jeff manages to start the car, arrive at the place he believes his wife to be, only to not be able to find her. Jeff eventually tracks down the driver and stops him, only to have the driver claim to have never seen him before. A new twist emerges.

Red: You're a tough man to get a hold of, Jeffery.

Jeff: What do you want?

Red: It's not what I want, it's what you want, and how bad you want it. 'Cause it's gonna cost you. Can't show it to you right now, but it's about 5'5", 115 pounds, three or four of that just pure tit. Nice curly brown hair, upstairs and down. Interested?

This movie clocks in at about 90 minutes and doesn't waste much time. We don't have an extended beginning with the couple first starting out, they're already on the road. We don't get drawn out motives of the characters, it is all given in a reasonable manner.

The movie keeps itself fairly low key and only amps up more and more as the film goes on. Kurt Russell playing an everyman is effective enough, even if he has to do some crazy things to try and get his wife back.

Its a fairly simple premise that works due to how competently made it is and its fast pace.

Earl: What a man needs out here is a CB radio.

Jeff Taylor: Is that right?

Earl: 'Course, if you use a CB, you gotta have a handle. I'm thinking for you, "Shit For Brains.".