One of those films that should be good - certainly Australia should make more movies in the Westie car milieu - but suffers from lack of focus and enthusiasm for its subject. The story is idea - James Laurie is a country kid from Toowoomba visiting the city to search for his dad and finds out he was involved in a car stealing racket. He works for a good mechanic with colourful mates (David Argue, Bruce Spence), comes up against corrupt cops.
That's a solid basis for an action movie, with cars, comedy, romance. This doesn't seem to work. James Laurie and Gia Carides are mismatched as the lovers - she's too young. Laurie is awkward. But in his defence he doesn't have that much to do. Their romance is easy - her family is a little strict but she's never in peril.
Attention drifts to support characters like Max Cullen and Bruce Spence and Jonathan Coleman. It livens up a tthe end when baddy Tony Barry shoots dead Graeme Blundell and there's a car chase - the ilm needed more life and death stakes.
It looks terrific. Interesting cast. Not a stinker.
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