The Junkman

"Gone in 60 Seconds" mastermind H.B. "Toby" Halicki basically plays himself in this ass kicking tale guaranteed to please car enthusiasts and action movie junkies everywhere. Harlan Hollis is a junkman who's made good with a drive-in car chase classic and who is now set to attend a festival honouring film legend James Dean. However, the trip there proves to be an extremely eventful one as somebody has decided that it would be a very good idea to bump off Harlan. So he has to dodge assassins left, right, and centre while pretty much every vehicle in sight is destroyed in extravagant fashion. When Harlan is thought to be dead, he realizes it's good cover while he hightails it to L.A. to find out the brains behind the operation.

Halicki delivers plenty of good, straightforward, unpretentious nonsense that's very easy to watch. The acting won't win any Oscars but it's just right for this sort of thing. Halicki is reasonably engaging in the lead, receiving fine support from Christopher Stone ("The Howling", "Cujo") as P.R. man Michael Fox, Susan Shaw as newswoman Susan Clark, who does some sleuthing of her own, Lang Jeffries ('Rescue 8') as Arthur, and Dan Grimaldi ("Don't Go in the House") as flustered news producer Larry Bergleman. Cameos include Freddy Cannon and the Belmonts, Lynda Day George ("Pieces") as a reporter, car customizer George Barris, and Hoyt Axton ("Gremlins") as both himself and a character in a film-within-the-film.

The non-stop assortment of eye popping vehicular stunts is simply spectacular. "The Junkman" set a record for over 150 vehicles destroyed in one way or another. Best of all is the memorable gag of jumping a car *over* a plane. Halicki even works the use of the Goodyear Blimp into the proceedings!

This is pulse-pounding visceral entertainment that really hits the spot.

Seven out of 10.

You may find it worth noting that the soundtrack on the reissued DVD (currently only available in Region 1 format) is different from the original video issue. Presumably for copyright clearance reasons the 'Great American Dream' song at the start has been removed - which is a shame. If you really (and I mean really) like Junkman then find the DVD issue of Deadline Auto Theft / Gone in 60 Seconds II which contains Deadline Auto Theft - a movie made up of stunts filmed for the original Gone in 60 Seconds / Junkman. And the edited stunts rushes footage from the never finished sequel to 'Gone' called 'Gone in 60 Seconds II' - HB Halicki was killed on the set while filming it so only the rushes remain as he did all the stuntwork first before working the plot around it.

This truly is one of the best car chase movies I've seen! It is comparable to Bullit, Ronin, Gone in 60 Seconds, etc. It is a classic combination of guns, explosives, & high speed car chases (and crashes!). While it is a lesser-known title than the others in its genre, the movie is action-packed from almost the very beginning through to the end. Additionally, this is the only movie I've seen wherein the main character is chased in a Cadillac Eldorado. Whether intentional or not, I found it somewhat ironic that the three cars involved in the main chase scene in the movie were each one from the Big 3 U.S. auto manufacturers. There's a GM, Ford, & Chrysler vehicle; I guess H. B. Halicki wanted to give equal recognition to each of the Big 3. In my opinion, the only reason it is not a perfect 10 is due to the mediocre acting and the distracting and sometimes annoying sub-plot. However, this still is a must-see for the car chase fanatic!

I just picked up this little gem on DVD. If you are a fan of 1980's era car chase flicks then this a fun, cheesy ride. While not as gritty as the legendary GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS(a true classic of outlaw filmaking,) this one boasts slicker production values and the World's Record for most vehicles wrecked in a movie. Full of thrilling stunts, gratuitous car crashes, sexy eighties ladies and a prize winning pig. By the way, the DVD is great. Great picture and lots of bonus footage(A peak at H.B. Halecki's car and toy collection is a treat.) Have fun.

H.B. Halicki, who thrilled many with some of the most exciting car chases in GONE IN 60 SECONDS, had this follow-up a few years later called THE JUNKMAN. This time, it's more amusing and hilarious than the previous film, and you will expect both more and the same with the almost nonstop action. In Halicki's second effort, there are big explosions, gunslinging, and a femme fatale out to catch Harlan B. Hollis' butt (he played the role). Don't be perturbed, though. It isn't THE original movie, but given the notorious stuntwork and a sense of humor, it still has its credentials. You'll be amazed with the low-flying aircraft, plus a never-before-seen idea of autos driving over front hoods! As films like this go, it doesn't hang onto any new innovations, and the crashes are nothing to get nutty about. Sometimes, cars crash directly on purpose, which is lame. Halicki's talent in making movies shouldn't be denied, as logos of GONE IN 60 SECONDS appear almost every time. That includes a familiar prop, the beaten-up yellow '73 Mustang he named "Eleanor"! This one's different, but it won't leave you disappointed. If nobody can agree with the professional movie critics on THE JUNKMAN, who will?