[3] The film stars Don McKellar as Pokey Jones, an orphaned barber in a small town near Thunder Bay, who dreams of becoming a jazz musician.

One morning, Jones discovers a frozen corpse (Steve Fall) in his backyard, and soon meets Jackie Bangs (Valerie Buhagiar), a tough and mysterious roadie who claims the dead man is her brother.

Peter Breck is fourth-billed as Mr. Watson, the "stage-mom" father of three girls: Mississippi (Missy), Minnesota (Minnie), and Louisiana (Louise).

A soundtrack album was released, featuring the following tracks:[4] Jay Scott of The Globe and Mail wrote that "Highway 61 is an example of unconditional love.

It acknowledges every wart, pockmark, pimple and pustule on its subject, and refuses to disguise even a single freckle, but it simultaneously finds the beauty in every blemish.

Otto and his lover, Margo the nutso singer, give Jackie and Pokey pistols and set about killing live chickens for dinner.