american icon henry fonda portray elegant john howard and an age trucker who have have his beloved big rig eleanor repossess after a lengthy hospital stay have force him to miss his payment . decide that he would like to make just one more perfect run and he break out of the hospital and steal back eleanor and and hook up with old friend penelope pearson ( eileen brennan ) and who be in need of relocate her troupe of prostitute . fondas wonderful performance be a natural anchor for a film that tug at the heartstrings as effectively a it tickle the funny bone in the more comedic scene . a superb cast include robert englund and a a reluctant young sidekick and susan sarandon ( who also get co producer credit ) and and dub taylor ( a delightful ham and a always and in the most blatantly comedic portion of the picture ) help immeasurably . the ultimately life affirm nature of the picture and the poignancy of the journey carry incredible weight while this be a picture and that provide you get into it and you can remember long after it over . the promise of the open road be vividly display here while the countryside just look beautiful . set to craig safans wonderful music score and it a remarkable picture in term of aesthetic . it lose a little something in it final act ( the character play by john byner and austin pendleton be little more than intrusion ) and but it still maintain it good vibe thanks to the appeal of it central character . not at all the exploitation or drive in schlock picture one might expect from the title ( especially it alternate title and the great smokey roadblock ) and it a rewarding movie experience that i can recommend without qualm . positive .