Car Wash (1976)

Outstanding, lively, well-paced, good-humored and very, very funny ensemble comedy. It has hardly any plot, but lots of great characters, lots of good laughs that keep on coming, and some memorable moments. Some genuinely touching moments fit in well and don't derail the comedy. It has an award-winning sound-track, too.

Fmovies: It is possible that in a hundred years a film like 'Car Wash' will have lost part of its comic effect, but of one thing we can be sure: because of its value as a document of an era, it will aspire to the term of 'classic' more than futile but pretty recreations of the past, such as 'Barry Lyndon' and the Ivory-Merchant productions, all of which may be more efficient technically-wise, but are all lacking a heart. 'Car Wash' is a collective and populist film about the spirit of community. It is also a motion picture with a few symbols thrown in, probably unconsciously. Since their creation, cars have always been a symbol of status: you are what you drive. The happy-go-lucky car washers offer a 'de luxe' service for all: they give the business a 'special touch' with their multi-racial hands --not only Negroes, but also Chicanos and native Americans--, through another symbol: water, the classic icon of purification and universal conscience. Surrounded by a group of very well defined characters (especially, since they are drawn by single strokes, or have very little screen time to develop psychological traits: they are characterized by their actions), three persons stand out: Mr. B (capital), Abdullah (revolution) and Lonnie (kindness.) The greed and neglect of the lustful and amiable car wash owner is contrasted with the anger and resentment of the dry and humorless political activist. In the middle comes the ex convict, who ultimately will settle things around the film's central issue: work. We cannot forget most of the issues referred to in the film in a casual way, as we normally do in daily life, and related to the multiple characters: love, religion, prostitution, parenthood, homosexuality, social climbing, class rejection, money, class struggle, sex, and above all, music, which is the unifying element. Norman Whitfield did such a good job, that he not only established the rhythm of the action, but its atmosphere, tone and feel. It generates such positive energy, that in the end all of the virtues that appear combined with the vices of the fast, consumerist and violent urban life, as well as the suffering of some of the characters, come to the fore: love, compassion, tolerance, patience, solidarity, friendship, happiness. That makes 'Car Wash' a joyful and universal parable of survival in the latter days of capitalism. And that is not an easy achievement for a little film, directed by an African-American and aimed at a very reduced population.

Car Wash is absolute genius. Here you have 1976 Los Angeles, the day in the life of a car wash. With the funky sounds of Rose Royce laying the back drop to the wacky, zany, out of control antics of the employees and various visitors to the Dee-luxe car wash, you simply can't go wrong! Marsha, the wanna be chic/vogue cashier is delightful to watch, "I got a date"! T.C. (Theodore Chaunce) has an alter ego called "The Fly" zzzzzzzz. Floyd and Lloyd, aspiring entertainers are ridiculously funny, "Is ribs pig?". Duane, uh I mean Abdula, the frustrated militant "I don't eat slave food. Is that alright with you?!" Calvin, the pesky skate board riding kid, "See you tomorrow, turkeys." And his mom, "Boy, look where you're going'!" And all the rest. Car Wash is a must see if you haven't already see it. And shame on you if you haven't!

Car Wash fmovies. An extremely underrated film that hopefully, with this DVD release, might finally gain some critical respect. Car Wash has somehow been lumped into the genre of wacky comedy over the years. However, the seriousness in which the plot develops and the sensitivity shown to its main characters make this a well directed comedy/drama (or dare I say it, dra-medy).

Everyone knows about the killer soundtrack, courtesy of Rose Royce and The Pointer Sisters (they smoke in this film), but what will surprise many is the smart script by Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever, 8MM) and gentle direction by Mike Schultz (Cooley High). Car Wash is a fun, day in the life comedy, but is also an intelligent, and at times thought provoking study on work roles, race relations, and ultimately, everyone's need to be loved.

The characters are slowly revealed with an Altman-esque quality. Especially strong performances by Antonio Fargas (known to most as Huggy Bear) and comedian Franklyn Ajaye as the Fly, a wanna be super hero that has a crush on a gorgeous, seemingly unattainable woman.

Richard Pryor and the Pointer Sisters take over the film at midpoint in the roles of Daddy Rich and the Wilson Sisters. This is an excellent performance by Pryor, as he extolls the virtue of both god and money to the workers at the car wash. The preacher is serious in his dedication to earning that almighty dollar, yet not above poking humor at the obvious conflictions he represents. A great scene, and it relieves some of the drama that has been set up by the brooding Abdullah, a muslim that is torn over the tensions and hypocrisies of the workplace.

There are no special features added to this DVD release, and that's a shame. It could benefit from some commentary (with a cast including Pryor, George Carlin, Professor Irwin Corey and Melanie Mayron, you'd think there are some great stories on the making of Car Wash), and a feature on the music would have been an obvious feature to add. Also, the film is only presented in full screen, no wide screen option is available.

Richard Pryor's recent death brings to mind all his work, including "Car Wash". This movie portrays one day in the life of several car wash employees in LA. They get a gaggle of wacky customers (including Pryor as cool dude Daddy Rich). Also, some people are trying to develop relationships with each other and such things. Among the other people in the movie are George Carlin as a taxi driver, DeWayne Jessie (aka Otis Day in "Animal House") as one of the employees, and also Antonio Fargas (who apparently played Huggy Bear on "Starsky and Hutch"). Maybe the movie is very much a product of the '70s, but that's part of what makes it so great. A true comedy gem.

This is one great film. Any film that has both George Carlin and Richard Pryor (even if their roles only amount to cameos) can't be all bad. This film also features one of the most underrated comics of all time in Franklyn Ajaye as T.C.. His attempts at trying to get the beautiful Mona to go out with him are what helps to make this film great. Also, the assortment of characters that hang out at the car wash are what make this film great.