"Joy Ride" promises decent thrills when it departs from its "Duel"-like structure and changes gears midstream, with the trucker doing something more than chasing the boys. Just as the movie reveals some subtlety, though, Dahl and his screenwriters revert back to cheap thrills, with a bit of sadism thrown in for good measure. The film's final scenes are simply a loud mess, with logic and believability thrown out the window, before the movie winds down with a tinny "ironic" ending. Lost in the mayhem are the good performances of Zahn, likable as the fun-loving screw-up in way over his head, and Sobieski, whose character reveals an interesting toughness. But characterization is not what Dahl & Co. are interested in, and that soon disappears amid the film's empty pyrotechnics. Starring Steve Zahn, Paul Walker and Leelee Sobieski. Directed by John Dahl. Written by Clay Tarver and J.J. Abrams. Produced by J.J. Abrams and Chris Moore. A Fox release. Drama. Rated R for violence/terror and language. Running time: 97 min
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