After so many years of only reading about this movie, I finally watched Car Wash on Netflix Streaming. Richard Pryor has an amusing cameo as a reverend with The Pointer Sisters providing accompaniment and George Carlin is a taxi driver looking for the hooker who stiffed him but the real stars are the ensemble employed at the title place. Among them are: Franklyn Ajaye, Garrett Morris, Melanie Mayron, Antonio Fargas, Clarence Muse, Bill Duke, and Ivan Dixon in a rare acting role during this decade since he was busy as a director of such films like Trouble Man and The Spook Who Sat by the Door. Joel Schumacher's script isn't always hilarious but there are moments that do provide genuine laughs. Michael Schultz' direction keeps things on an even keel. And don't you just dig the cool songs written by Norman Whitfield and sung by Rose Royce especially the title tune? So on that note, I recommend Car Wash.
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tavm14 February 2012
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wtcouncil20 February 2005If you like funny....pointless.....sophomoric humour, then this is the film for YOU! I have to admit I saw it when I was 11 years old and just fell in love with it! So, if you have a young child's memory of the film...see it...if you are over the age of 13 seeing it for the first time.....then it is what it is.
Given the fact it was even made in 1976 with a largely African-American cast says volumes. Yes, it has some buffoonery and a little step-and-fetchit, but then....these people were STILL working! Whose working now? And, as what? Final Word. It is light-hearted family entertainment and it could begin a dialogue in the family...something to which many of today's films won't ever aspire. -
planktonrules15 September 2013"Car Wash" is a film that is really hard to describe when it comes to plot. In some ways, it's a lot like the later "Barbershop" films but with a lot less depth as well as a bit like "American Graffiti" for Black Americans. However, the film is great for anyone who remembers the 70s--especially if they love the soul music of the time. That's because Rose Royce's soundtrack is VERY enjoyable and you can't help moving your feet as you watch the film.
The picture is a semi-plot less story about a single day at a car wash in Los Angeles. It's made up of LOTS of little vignettes--s few which were pretty funny and one or two that were poignant. While a few of the bits fell pretty flat (such as the Richard Pryor cameo), overall the good outweighs the bad. Particular standouts in the film are Ivan Dixon (a fine, fine actor who is great here but also is unfortunately known most for "Hogan's Heroes" and not fine films like "Nothing But a Man" as well as the many shows he directed) and Franklin Ajaye--though they were all pretty enjoyable. My feeling is don't try to look for a lot of depth or story--just sit back and soak it all in, as it's like a flashback to the funky 70s. In other words, a nice glimpse into the time and a wide array of ethnic characters with a wide array of hopes and dreams.
I've seen this film a few times (the last time was tonight) and for folks my age or a bit older (I'm nearly 50), it's a nice bit of nostalgia.
By the way, look for the character 'Lloyd' (part of a singing duo)--this is Otis Day from "Animal House"! It's also a treat seeing Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear from "Starsky & Hutch") as a gay transvestite! It's also nice to see the old-time actor Clarence Muse in the film as well in one of his final films. -
G-Man-259 January 2000A great ensemble cast, a loose, funky script that left room for improvisation and a great (nonstop) pulsating disco/soul soundtrack make this film a pleasant diversion and definitely a document of its' era. It also served as a blueprint for many other primarily black-cast comedies to come. When writing 1997's "Friday," Ice Cube was quoted as saying he wanted to create a fun film just like "Car Wash." Many funny scenes, some in questionable taste, but still harmless enough. For those who lived through the period, it'll bring back some memories.
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gavin694229 August 2013"Car Wash" is about a close-knit group of employees who one day have all manner of strange visitors coming onto their forecourt, including Richard Pryor as a preaching 'wonder-man' who is loved by most but loathed by one, and a man who looks like a bomber by the way he is holding his bottle.
Dear children of the 1990s, before there was "Empire Records" or "Clerks", there was "Car Wash". If you like watching a group of slackers who run into interesting situations without having to leave their work place, this is the film for you.
You should probably be sold on it just because Richard Pryor and George Carlin are in it. But if that is not enough, it is just a fun and funny little picture. Perhaps the theme song is played one too many times, but at least it is one of the better disco songs of the era. -
tabu3236 August 2005I'm not sure why, but I loved this movie. I saw it as a young teenager, and I saw it many times. A day-in-the-life of the Dee-luxe Car Wash and the employees is very funny. There is no plot, but the ensemble cast is excellent, and the chemistry between the characters is great! They are believable as co-workers/friends, and you get to know each character (a bit) by the end of the movie. Franklin Ajaye is great as TJ. The soundtrack is awesome! The slice-of-life format is interesting, and keeps you involved with each character fairly equally. George Carlin's cameo is good, and Richard Pryor in a cameo with the Pointer Sisters is great! This is a movie you'll either love or hate.....I loved it!
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Quinoa198415 February 2000Car Wash is the type of film that doesn't go any where, but thats only because it doesn't need too. Along with a good script, there are a lot of characters (maybe enough for two movies for Schumacher to put in) which bring the movie through its lulls.
My favorite was George Carlin as the cab driver who was looking for a tall, blonde, black chick. But the only problem was I wanted to like his character more, but his character (also like my other favorite character, Richard Pryor, as Daddy Rich) was not well developed and was not in the movie that much. Even so, that doesn't bother the funny scenes that go on during one day at a L.A. car wash. Well meaning and humorous throughout. -
neil_mc12 December 2005In a somewhat morbid coincidence, Channel 5 in the UK managed to have this scheduled for the day after Richard's Pryor's death. And to be sure - even though he only has a 2-minute cameo - it is a harmless, lightweight affair, and the sort of material that would attempt to be a tribute to a very entertaining career.
Although in truth, this is NOT a great film. A huge cast of characters all seemingly singing from the same hymn sheet, you'll struggle to distinguish between most of them given that they're all playing the same role. Each even mildly humorous wisecrack is greeted with a chorus of "YEAH, WOOHOO, YEAH"'s from the entire workforce. Very annoying. And the 'Car Wash' tune will be imprinted on your brain for a couple of days after you watch it, seeing as they play it close to 400 times throughout.
Nothing to write home about, but not altogether without its moment's. 5/10 -
lee_eisenberg25 December 2005Richard 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.
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phatdan7 July 2008Copyright owners have rights, but why edit out such a significant part of this wonderfully unique film, especially when most people who buy VHS or DVD do so expecting and desiring the original? Was it because of some cast member who wanted his slice of DVD earnings, so they cut his part out? As Daddy Rich says, "Money talks and Bull$#*! walks." Or was it the other way around?
The segment was in the final scenes concerning the secretary. Though a little sad, it was also very funny. Her pitiful character fit perfectly into her dismal circumstance. And, it illustrated beautifully a valid theme: cars may get clean, but life is not always a dream. Her heartbreaking yet humorous predicament revealed the soul of the film.
Maybe the owners thought it was too downbeat; the conclusion tries to leave us feeling good about the characters, that everything will work out, that life in a car wash, though hardly uplifting, can also display positive aspects of the human condition.
But Car Wash is merely light-hearted entertainment. It also reveals, very casually, the Black experience in America. It is not a serious period piece. The makers obviously had no intention to make it so. Perhaps this revised edition hints at a low regard for the sensibilities of today's audiences. If so, what a shame. -
It's a day in the life of Dee-Luxe Car Wash in L.A. It's a group fun loving wacky employees. There's Lonnie in charge, angry Duane actually Muslim Abdullah, T.C. trying to win a radio contest and others. The boss Mr. B is having a fling with the receptionist Marsha. His son is a Maoist who wants to work with the proletariat. There are others like George Carlin as a cabbie, Richard Pryor as the slick Daddy Rich and The Pointer Sisters as his backup singers The Wilson Sisters.
The movie struggles to have a plot for 90% of the time. It's just a bunch of guys running around, talking trash and working. There isn't actually a plot. The movie is a mile wide and an inch deep. It's hard to connect with the characters when there are so many of them and none of them is the lead. Everybody is a bit wacky. There are some interesting possibilities like Lonnie, Abdullah and T.C. but they don't expand on their stories. That's why the ending is so abrupt. It turns dark and completely different from the rest of the movie. Richard Pryor often gets headline billing but he only has an unfunny ten minute cameo. The writer needs to cut out a few employees and add an actual plot. The song is really cool though. It's noteworthy that Joel Schumacher is the writer. He's not most noted as a good writer. -
gorgonite4 September 2007Q.Why has this film got such a low rating on IMDb?
A.Could it be the world has been taken over by Daddy Rich!
This film is priceless because it captures a snapshot of the 1970's. Moreover it portrays a day in the lives of a group of people working in a California Car Wash. Of course it's part soap, part chain of skits, part cameo, but it's all packaged into pure 70's perfection. Feel Good and enjoy.
Positives - Funny, Funky Soundtrack, Richard Prior, Pointer Sisters, Superfly (zz zz ..), Mona, Hippo, Ears, pa - iss!
Negatives - None
Overall - Got soul, then get this -
thescholar221 February 2021I remember when watching "I Love the 70s" on VH1 a long time ago I heard about the car wash song and that it was based on a movie. I even wanted to try and work at one the car wash places around here where I live but I never really saw the movie until I watched it on demand to see what it was all about.
This movie starts off with 1970s Los Angeles and a bunch of guys who work at the car wash. It's surprising how car wash places used to hand wash the car or put it through a cycle where you can watch it go by. Today now you just go in along with the wash cycle.
This movie is mostly just a bunch of people who hang out at the car wash and work there. There's also a taxi driver and a preacher played by George Carlin and Richard Pryor, they're not in this movie much just so you'll know. Also, there is this hooker who gets dressed in the car wash bathroom at times as well they even mention a pop bottle Bomber but nothing really comes of it in the movie. The end though at night worried me a bit though it didn't end too badly from what I saw.
Anyway, this movie seemed like a nice little movie from the 70s and the soundtrack is amazing. You can give it a watch if you want just a little laugh for escapism or what life was back then, "can you dig?". -
Squonk9 March 1999Car Wash seems to have been an idea for a hit soundtrack first, the movie was an after-thought. The story concerns a bunch of different characters who work at an LA car wash. The problem is there are way too many characters. By the time you can finally remember all of their names, the movie is over. And, unfortunately, most of the "comic" situations they encounter aren't at all funny. Richard Pryor appears in a glorified cameo but his comic talents aren't used at all. Only the final scene of the film in which Lonnie tries to stop Abdula from robbing the shop had me interested. Otherwise the film is as cluttered and messy as dead flies on a windshield.
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erich90007 April 2000An 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. -
The Car Wash was a breath of fresh air in some ways. Here was a 70's movie with a predominately black cast that wasn't a Blaxploitation film. I didn't have to be offended by the foul mouthed, cool, pimp, pusher, hustler, or playboy with the stable of women.
This movie was good in its simplicity even if it was a bit light on laughs. It seems there was a character for every 70's type and if you lived through the 70's then you could identify with or at least recognize some of the characters.
For my money, the theme song and the soundtrack was where it was at. Rose Royce and the Pointer Sisters were among the very few artists I appreciate from that decade. They could've kept a running track of their hits and it would only make the movie better. -
Car Wash (1976) is a movie that I recently watched for the first time in a long time on Tubi. The storyline follows a group of car wash employees; some of which have dreams of a brighter future, new opportunities, chick chasing or they're just happy with where they are. Meanwhile, some unique customers come through the car wash for their services - pimps, spoiled brats, kids from the area and customers from out of the area. As the car wash employee's worlds collide with customers, so does their direction.
This movie is directed by Michael Schultz (Cooley High) and stars Richard Pryor (Harlem Nights), Sully Boyar (Dog Day Afternoon), Richard Brestoff (The Man with Two Brains), George Carlin (Dogma), Otis Day (Animal House) and Bill Duke (The Predator).
This movie is great mainly due to its ability to capture the 70s in such a fun and entertaining way. The soundtrack, dialogue and jive are so entertaining. The skits are fun, even if the comedic content is inconsistent. The situations really capture the imagination and leave you wondering if all those events could really happen at the car wash. The radio narrator was a great touch and the throw-up sequence was legendary. I laugh every time I see it. Even the closing credits in this is entertaining.
Overall, this isn't my favorite 70s Blaxploitation film, but it is a fun one. I would score this a solid 7/10 and strongly recommend it. -
beachtv-12 October 2023Ah, "Car Wash," the 1976 ensemble comedic drama, a psychedelic tapestry woven with the threads of a day-in-the-life narrative at a bustling Los Angeles car wash. The dawn bestows upon us a cavalcade of characters, each an eccentric petal in a blooming flower of urban existentialism. The music-oh, the music-Rose Royce's soundtrack is a rhythm-infused heartbeat that pulses through the veins of this cinematic organism, an aural concoction that marries funk with the gritty asphalt of LA's sprawling jungle.
As the sun traipses across the sky, the story unfolds, a kaleidoscope of lives intertwining amidst soap suds and the hum of the city. The overarching theme of unity amidst diversity, of finding laughter and camaraderie in the mundane, dances across the screen. The director, Michael Schultz, orchestrates this carnival of souls with a deft hand, blending humor with poignancy, the comedic with the tragic, all while maintaining a pace as rhythmic and flowing as the jazz-infused beats that serenade the narrative.
The mood is a melange of hope, despair, and the indefatigable spirit of camaraderie that binds the misfit tribe of car wash employees. The performances are as varied as they are vibrant; Franklin Ajaye's philosophical poet, the flamboyant Lindy played by Antonio Fargas, and the stoic ex-con Lonnie, portrayed by Ivan Dixon, breathe life into this urban tableau. Their dialogues, a mixture of the whimsical and the profound, resonate with the beat of humanity that courses through the car wash.
Visually, the film is a time capsule, a celluloid mural capturing the essence of a bygone era, the 70's aesthetics lending an authentic touch to the narrative. The sets, the costumes, every frame is drenched in the hues of the decade, a visual feast that transports one back in time.
Yet, amidst the laughter and rhythm, there's a tinge of melancholy, a reflection of the social issues of the time. The directorial vision, while engaging, sometimes skates on the surface, leaving one yearning for a deeper dive into the souls of these everyday philosophers.
The emotional impact is akin to a warm embrace intertwined with a soft whisper of the harsh realities that lurk just beyond the car wash. The juxtaposition of hope and reality, of dreams and the daily grind, leaves a bittersweet aftertaste.
"Car Wash" is a rhythmic exploration of life's mundane yet profound moments, an ode to the everyday heroes whose stories are often lost in the cacophony of existence. Through humor and heart, it delves into the essence of community and the indomitable spirit of humanity, even in the face of adversity. -
The 1976 film Car Wash follows a group of black employees at a white owned car wash. After seeing all the reviews and fan praise for this so called black classic, I am quite sure that everyone who liked this movie are on crack. This movie was terrible, I found no humor or entertainment in it at all. Yes this movie was before my time, but I have went back and watched a lot of black movies from the past. Movies like "Dolemite" and "Cooley High" are some of my favorites in fact. Car wash defies the laws of how movies are made. There is no main character, there is no clear antagonist, no real conflict, no climax, no resolution, and it isn't even funny. People say this is Richard Pryor's funniest movie. How? Pryor was only in the movie for 5 minutes, and during that time he didn't really say anything funny. There was no real story, conflict, or any real attempt at character development. They basically stayed at the car wash all day. This movie was basically like going to a car wash, and just observing the atmosphere until it closed, and even that might be more entertaining than this movie. I give this movie a 1 out of 10, and the 1 is for the soundtrack(the only good thing in the film). If you want to watch a funny movie about a car wash, watch the 2001 remake "The Wash", with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. "The Wash" was pretty funny (much, much more than Car wash) and had a real story(including main characters, antagonist, main conflict, and all the basic elements that a professional made film should have). And unlike "Car Wash", The Wash is a black owned car wash with mostly black employees, and actually showed them in real conflict and interaction on and off the car wash property. The truth is the truth, someone has to tell it; and despite the false praise it has been given, Car Wash is not a very good movie. Get off the crack people. I have not been this disappointed after watching a film since I watched the un-humorous and regurgitated film "Anchorman 2", and even that had all the basic story elements that professional movies are suppose to have. Car Wash a classic black film? Have you all lost your damn minds?
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Woodyanders18 February 2007This very funny, lively and engaging comedy hoot offers a slice-of-life seriocomic cinematic snapshot of a single frantic day at an inner city Los Angeles car wash. Michael Schultz directs with great galvanizing zeal and panache, stringing together a wacky and enjoyable series of freewheeling vignettes with a positively breathtaking sense of smoothness and assurance. Joel Schumacher's witty and colorful script offers plenty of warmth and humanity along with the often uproariously raucous humor. The varied and personable cast have a field day with their vivid characters: Bill Duke as an angry Muslim, Ivan Dixon as a wise, hard-working parolee, Sully Boyar as the harried owner, Franklyn Ajaye as an amiable dreamer, Tracy Reed as a sweet waitress, Antonio Fargas as a flamboyant homosexual, Lorraine Gary as a stuck-up upper class white lady, Jack Kehoe as an affable cowboy, Pepe Serna as a jovial Hispanic, George Carlin as a flaky cab driver, Lauren Jones as a sad hooker, Professor Irwin Corey as a middle-aged guy who's mistaken for a pot bottle bomber, Garrett Morris as a jivey hipster, Melanie Mayron as the sexy cashier, Tim Thomerson as a handsome hunk, Richard Pryor as slick hustler reverend Daddy Rich, and the Pointer Sisters as Daddy Rich's gospel singers. Frank Stanley's polished, sparkling cinematography, Norman Whitfield's funky, dynamic, syncopated soul score, Christopher Holmes' snappy rhythmic editing, and Rose Royce's fabulously groovy classic hit theme song add further bounce and energy to the infectiously frothy, playful and sprightly proceedings. Best of all, there's a constant joy and vibrancy evident throughout which makes this movie an absolute uplifting treat to watch.
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fatcat-7345021 October 2021This is a drama about the mostly black workers at a car wash in Southern California in the 1970s. Yes, despite the fact that Richard Pryor and George Carlin make cameo appearances, there isn't much comedy in this aside from their scenes.
It reminded me of Midaq Alley (1995) in that it takes as its subject matter the individual lives of an ensemble of lower-class urban characters, focusing especially on each one's romantic and financial problems.
It's less artistically done than Midaq, but it makes up for it by overflowing 70s charm and style. The acting is strong to go along with that.
One of the most impactful aspects of Midaq was its endings - in that film, we see happiness snatched from each character, often in tragic fashion. In Car Wash, instead, there are no tragic endings. However, while on the surface they seem to be happy they're not fairy tale endings either. Rather I would characterise them as hopeful but unlikely to lead to any permanent joyful solution. Like working at the car wash, every day is more of the same and even the weekly pay days, while perhaps a source of joy for these workers, are only a brief respite from their mundane lives. So they live jumping from one hope to another without any real resolution.
The "main" ending is one of the strongest I've seen though.
Honourable mentions: Good Will Hunting (1997). The main ending in Car Wash is reminiscent of the emotional climax in Hunting. -
mz439220 October 2003This is just an awful movie. Really, there is no substance and if there is a plot it is well hidden. It is rated as a comedy but I failed to find any funny parts. If your kids bring home bad marks on their report cards, they should be made to watch this film as punishment.
mz4392 -
buzznzipp19954 December 2006The first time I saw this movie I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. My family had owned a car wash, detail company before and I could see that the writer of this movie had done his respective homework on the character development!! The motley crew that we had employed, were just about in the exact same 'vein' of life as these, 'cons' 'crazy men' and 'criminals' that made up the perfect cast in 'Carwash'! I loved this for simple reasons, it simply hit right on it.
Sully Boyer, the car-wash owner was a perfectly in place, dis-placed business owner, complete with bad marriage and regrets of owning the wash and not making it a parking lot, like his brother, who could now buy and sell him. There was T.C. (Theodore Chancey Talcott)played by Franklin Ajaye, who's 'hook' in the story was he was imagining that he would be a super hero, named 'The Fly'. "I'd be sharp, sharp, sharp, man. No one would mess with me." Standing with Lloyd by the rag sinks. But he was also in love with Mona. The fine foxy broad who worked at the café, 'Five Spot'. With the whole 'dryer line' to dry the cars as they pulled out from the washing area. The Mexican worker who would harass his Indian friend and back and forth it would go, all the while on the clock! The fighting couple with the classic Mustang to the hippie Jewish kid, well versed in ghetto speak. This movie had it all. Enter Richard Pryor, as the fast-talking money grabbing Rev. Daddy Rich. accompanied by the Pointer sisters! Hilarious!! The more I watch this the more astounded I am at how true to life and form these characters interact with one another.
Even an ending that was serious enough, to put a well-rounded effect on the out come of the plot and m.o. of the players. It showed, Loni cared about a young upstart punk, enough to see more in him than he himself(Ackbar-'Duane')could see for himself. Loni(Ivan Dixon's character)simply believed in Duane. That was what Duane needed to not end up in prison. He needed someone to believe in him, not use him to rob a company and go straight to prison.
I recommend this highly to those who love the seventies, a great comedic 'everyday' work-situation and doesn't necessarily need car chases or explosions, special effects etc. Bravo. (****) -
Bunuel197611 December 2008This modern 'black' comedy is something of a cult but also patchy overall: surprisingly, it was written by future Hollywood film-maker Joel Schumacher and director Schultz, then, would eventually go on to make the fiasco that was the film version of The Beatles' seminal album SGT. PEPPERS' LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (1978). It basically provides a microcosm of mid-1970s American attitudes (and converging cultures) in its 'day in the life' depiction of the titular workplace: characters, costumes, hairstyles, soundtrack, even language are so obviously of their time that they both make and date the film.
Popular stand-up comics put in an appearance as well: George Carlin is a taxi driver forever in search of a female customer who ditched him but then doesn't recognize the girl when he comes face to face with her(!), while Richard Pryor has a showy role as a millionaire (i.e. hypocritical) evangelist. It's telling that perhaps the film's funniest gags are both gross in nature: one has a boy constantly throwing up and another in which an old man's urine sample-bottle is mistaken for an exploding liquid and destroyed!