"Anna" (Lieux Dressler) operates a truck stop in rural New Mexico which doubles as a small brothel. She and her daughter, "Rose" (Claudia Jennings) have also taken up hijacking some of the trucks and selling the cargo to some organized racketeers in Los Angeles. However, because they are so successful other racketeers decide to move in and take over. And they won't take "no" for an answer. What they fail to realize is just how adamant Anna is about keeping what is hers and the plans that Rose has for the truck stop once her mother finally relinquishes it to her. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie I will just say that it was a bit heavy on action but rather light on reality. Of course, as a grade-B, drive-in movie it was never meant to be taken seriously anyway so I guess that's okay. Be that as it may, the acting wasn't great and it was clearly lacking in badly needed drama and suspense. Even so, Claudia Jennings looked great and the surprise twist at the end certainly didn't hurt either. Unfortunately, neither of these assets were enough to adequately zero-out the balance sheet and I have rated this movie accordingly. Slightly below average.

Why would I be awake at 2:51 AM on a school night watching a movie called Truck Stop Women - as well as Road Angels - when I could just as easily be in bed? Well, some would say it's a devotion to our readers who demand to know more about mid-70's truck driving action films. But we all. know it's because this movie has Claudia Jennings in it and that name is enough to make me say, "Well, I'll at least watch this for a few minutes." Before you know it, the sun is coming up and I've spent all of my beauty sleep hours watching the dearly departed Ms. Jennings skate roller derby or fight the syndicate or play post-apocalyptic games with David Carradine. Tonight is no different.

What can you say about a movie that starts with two gangsters assassinating a naked couple in a bathtub? You roped me in again, Mark Lester, director of Commando, Firestarter, Class of 1984, Bobbi Joe and the Outlaw, Roller Boogie and so many other movies that have also kept me awake late into the small hours.

Anna (Lieux Dressler, Grave of the Vampire) runs a brothel for truckers - yes, there was once a thing and I bet there probably still is - in New Mexico. He daughter Rose (Jennings) is one of her girls (so is Uschi Digard!) but she's tired of her mom running her life and dreams of more money, so she starts working with the Eastern Mafia - led by Smith (John Martino, Paulie Gatto from The Godfather) and Rusty (Speed Stearns, Eat My Dust!) - to take over the racket.

Oddly enough, $15,000 of this film's budget came from politician Phil Gramm. There were some articles that made a big stink about it being an adult film,but it's honestly softcore at best.

Look, any movie where Claudia Jennings yells, "Would Jackie Onassis eat chicken fried steak!?" is going to be one that I end up watching. Whether or not you have the same bad taste as me will determine whether or not you should watch this movie.

Does it help if I tell you that the entire movie stops dead for a montage of an 18 wheeler going across the entire country to the tune of "I'm a Truck," sung from the POV of the truck itself? Because wow, that totally happens. Hey - Dennis Fimple is in it, so maybe you really should stay up all night. I know that I did.

Lieux Dressler ("Kingdom of the Spiders") plays Anna, an enterprising sort of woman who runs a prostitution and hijacking business out of a truck stop. And business is definitely good. Good enough that the Eastern mob steps in, determined to have a piece of that pie. Unfortunately, what's working against Anna is that her daughter Rose (drive-in goddess Claudia Jennings, "Gator Bait") is rebellious and making time with the enemy.

There is no shortage of colorful and seedy characters in this lively example of the drive-in movie genre. The script by Paul Deason and producer-director Mark L. Lester ("Class of 1984", "Commando") nicely sets up a bunch of stirring action set pieces and a respectable level of sleaze. One can hardly fail to notice how often Ms. Jennings shows off the goods. The film also has a decent sense of humor and is on occasion serious without ever getting TOO serious. It's extremely well shot in Techniscope widescreen by John Arthur Morrill, and features a flavorful assortment of music composed by Big Mack & The Truckstoppers. It begins with a bang - several, actually - and there's rarely a let-up until the abrupt and downbeat conclusion.

Jennings delivers a standout performance, but the entire main cast is engaging: Dressler as the fiery Anna, John Martino (Paulie Gatto in "The Godfather") as mafia goon Mr. Smith, Paul Carr ("Brute Corps") as the easygoing Seago, Dennis Fimple ("House of 1000 Corpses") as worry-wart Curly, Gene Drew ("Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw") as the ornery Mac, Jennifer Burton as Tina, Dolores Dorn ("The Candy Snatchers") as Trish, Len Lesser ('Seinfeld') as the playful Winter, and stunt coordinator "Speed" Stearns as Smiths' flunky Rusty.

In general, this is agreeable formula entertainment: fast-paced, fairly violent, sexy, and funny. Good fun for fans of the genre.

Seven out of 10.