Review of Used Cars (1980) by Rj M — 07 May 2011
The only R-rated movie from director Robert Zemekis is one of the great unsung comedies of the 1980's. Kurt Russell is at his best as Rudy Russo, a fast talking used car saleman that will do anything for the sale. He's so adept at lying, cheating, and telling people what they want to hear, that he realizes his true calling...politics.
His boss agrees to loan him $10,000 so he can buy a local election to the state senate. But his boss dies before he can give him the loan, so now Rudy has to sell every car he can to come up with the money. He's hampered in every attempt by his boss' nefarious brother, who just happens to own another used car lot across the street. As politically incorrect as they come, the movie is a non-stop laugh riot that holds up today, despite the trappings of being made in 1980. While Kurt Russell is the star, the movie belongs to the late Jack Warden, who plays the dual parts of Roy and Luke Fuchs. Luke, the kindly one, and Roy, the ultimate sleazeball.
There are so many classic scenes in this movie, it's impossible to list them. But the standouts have to be the two illegal commercials Rudy and his co-workers broadcast during a football game, and the presidential address. Suffice it to say that neither one goes right, and we get results ranging from full frontal female nudity, to exploding cars. Also there is a scene where the salesman are in full swing and telling people everything they want to hear to sell a car. They even get their dog to play dead so a potential customer will feel guilt ridden about running the dog over, that he'll buy the car.
The movie got buried in its initial release, opening the same day as Airplane. As great as that movie is, Used Cars is even funnier. The dvd of this movie contains an audio commentary by Robert Zemekis, Kurt Rusell, and co-writer Bob Gale. It is the single greatest commentary in dvd history, and the stories they tell about making this movie are even funnier than the movie itself. Believe me, that's saying something.
This review of Used Cars (1980) was written by Rj M on 07 May 2011.
Used Cars has generally received positive reviews.
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