A really satisfying film needs a good basic premise, an intriguing development, and a satisfying ending. Breakdown has two out of three. The idea of the story is horribly real. Many automobile vacationers fear road predators, who prey on the vulnerability of those far from their home turf.

The development of the plot is also well done. There are enough twists and red herrings to keep the audience uncertain of the ultimate direction of the film. The disappointment, however, lies in the denouement. From about two thirds of the way through the film the creativity of this story seems to suddenly run dry, leaving no where for the film to go except to an inevitable conclusion. The plot loses all credibility and winds its way downhill to a comical ending.

Weak ending aside, Breakdown is still a very satisfying movie. The pace of the film is electrifying. The plot is neither drawn out, nor particularly complicated. There are, however, a couple of important omissions. A vital clue to unwrap the film's mystery is conveniently omitted from the beginning narrative. Thus, the villain's explanation of how he set the trap for Russell leaves the audience feeling cheated - its difficult to work out what's going on when part of the story is deliberately masked.

Much later in the final scene of the movie, Russell hangs from a steel pole attached to a truck hanging over a cliff, desperately clinging to the rod to save himself from falling to certain death. Miraculously, in the next shot, he is suddenly in a fist fight with one of the villains.

Still, there is so much action and loud throbbing music that the audience is swept along in a rush of adrenaline that small details like logic can almost be left behind.

Kurt Russell is perfect as Mr. Average American. There's a no nonsense manner to Russell that is both comforting and easy to watch. Mind you, his character is a little too physically enabled to really be convincing. I'm not sure how many people could actually crawl through the underside of an eighteen-wheeler moving at 60 miles an hour along a highway, but Russell does, without looking too ridiculous in the process.

Breakdown is a good film spoiled by a mediocre ending.