Car Wash

Car Wash. 1976 Universal Pictures.
Starring: Franklyn Ajaye, Ivan Dixon, Bill Duke, Antonio Fargas, Lorraine Gary, Garrett Morris, Irwin Corey, Otis Sistrunk, The Pointer Sisters
Billed as Starring on the DVD Cover: Richard Pryor, George Carlin
Written by Joel Schumacher
Director: Michael Schultz
Buy Car Wash from Amazon.

Universal's reissue of Car Wash is deliberately misleading, as the cover advertises George Carlin and Richard Pryor as the stars in the movie. They actually play relatively small roles: Carlin as a taxi driver trying to find a passenger who skipped paying the fare, and Pryor is a preaching "wonder man" called Daddy Rich who, with one notable exception, is loved by most people. Daddy Rich also has the Pointer Sisters with him, and they launch into an impromptu song in front of the gas pumps. Danny DeVito was also cast in the movie, but his scenes were deleted from the final cut.

On what appears to be a lovely Los Angeles day, we see the flamboyant and fun loving employees at the Dee-Lite Car Wash as they work with and encounter a variety of colorful and interesting customers. One gentleman causes a scare because he happens to fit the profile of an active terrorist, and it also appears that he's carrying something, but it turns out he is just an innocent man carrying his urine sample to the hospital.

Car Wash wasn't a box office success, but the soundtrack album, recorded by the disco singer Rose Royce, was a major smash hit, and the well known title track hit number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Some of Michael Schultz's other notable projects are Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Krush Groove, and a mediocre ensemble comedy in the vein of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World called Scavenger Hunt.

Not bad. Recommended, but again, do not expect Carlin or Pryor to steal the show. It's really the music that holds this movie together.

D.C. Cab

D.C. Cab. 1983 Universal Pictures.
Starring: Max Gail, Adam Baldwin, Mr. T, Charlie Barnett, Gary Busey, Gloria Gifford, Marsha Warfield, Bill Maher, Paul Rodriguez, Jose Perez, Bob Zmuda, The Barbarian Brothers
Cameo appearance: Irene Cara
Director: Joel Schumacher
Buy D.C. Cab at Amazon.

Who would want to voluntarily work for a taxicab company where the cabs are all just moments away from breaking down, the headquarters is a dump, and the drivers are all offbeat characters who are just waiting for better jobs to come along? Simple, Albert Hockenberry (Baldwin) from Georgia does, as a favor for his late dad's army buddy Harold. Harold (Gail) would love to improve the company, but can't seem to afford to.

After a valuable violin is found in the cabs, Harold and his wife earn ten grand as a reward. Harold wants to share the reward money with the drivers, letting them invest in D.C. Cab as partners, which goes awry after his wife takes the money, throwing him and Albert out of the house. The cabbies are upset about losing their share, and Albert decides to donate his share of the money to the company, convincing everyone to stay and improve the company and themselves.

Recommended.