Review of Used Cars (1980) by Nicholas V — 20 Sep 2007

Before he made 'Back to the Future', and even 'Romancing the Stone', Robert Zemeckis was a director who (with Bob Gale) wrote films that played huge with audiences yet no one ever showed up to see them.

'Used Cars' was one of the primo examples of a flop that didn't deserve the treatment it got. I'll admit, I've owned the film for a couple of years now but I've never watched the full, uncut version that was released in theatres until I showed it to my sister and dad.

This was the only film Zemeckis made that was R-rated, with profanity, nudity, sexual content, and rauncy humor showing up at every turn. The movie stars Kurt Russell as Rudy Russo. He's the best salesman Luke Fuchs has, played by Jack Wardon.

That is if they can only get the customers on the lot that his brother Roy (also played by Jack Wardon) has on the lot across the street. Russo's ambition is to run for State Senate, but he hits a snag when Luke has a massive coronary right in front of him.

His brother knows that he's dead, but he has no evidence, but Rudy needs quick cash, so he and his co-workers decide to make fake commercials that interrupt not only a local college football game, but also jam President Carter's address to the nation.

It's this moment that is the high point of the movie. When you see the movie, you'll know why. Then, a problem arises. Luke's long-lost daughter Barbara (played by Deborah Harmon) comes into the picture.

She's everything that Russo's not. She's honest and trust-worthy, and she's also got a lot to learn. Predictably, they fall in love while he tries to hide the truth. It all leads to a finale that is as crazy as the rest of the film.

It's one of the funniest films you'll ever see in its first hour, but its second hour is not as funny, although it still has its moments. But if you can stand rauncy humor, and a dated Disco joke, then I think you'll enjoy this movie quite a bit.

Give it a try. "Trust me!".