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Movies / On DVD / Car Wash
Car Wash

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Car Wash (1976)

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86 %
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Reviews Counted:21

Fresh:18

Rotten:3

Average Rating:6.7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Director Michael Schultz follows up his critically acclaimed and commercially successful COOLEY HIGH with this hilarious day-in-the-life tale set in modern day Los Angeles. At Sully Boyar's car... Director Michael Schultz follows up his critically acclaimed and commercially successful COOLEY HIGH with this hilarious day-in-the-life tale set in modern day Los Angeles. At Sully Boyar's car wash, a juvenile, motley crew of city dwellers "work their fingers to the bone" waiting on the eccentric and sometimes haughty clientele. Throughout the day, the young men find time to indulge in personal pursuits: one fellow fantasizes about the pretty waitress working at a local restaurant, a militant preaches politics, while more disgruntled workers find a way to justify their laziness. As the day wears on, the many levels of oppression that control each individual's lives gradually become apparent. Luckily, Schultz and screenwriter Joel Schumacher don't dwell on the potentially depressing aspects of their subject matter; proving that sometimes laughter is the best medicine, they stuff their film with enough verbal, visual, and situational humor to keep the audience laughing throughout. This can also be attributed to the performances by the all-star ensemble of performers, including Franklin Ajaye, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Bill Duke, and Garrett Morris. Cementing the deal is the film's soundtrack, which features the soulful music of diva Rose Royce. [More]

Starring: Richard Pryor, Franklin Ajaye, George Carlin, Irwin Corey

Starring: Richard Pryor, Franklin Ajaye, George Carlin, Irwin Corey, Sully Boyar, Ivan Dixon, Antonio Fargas, Tracy Reed, Richard Brestoff, Bill Duke, Ed Metzger

Director: Michael Schultz

Director: Michael Schultz
Screenwriter: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Art Linson, Gary Stromberg
Composer: Norman Whitfield

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Car Wash

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Tom Milne

Highly enjoyable.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato

There's no plot as such, just a collection of gags, issues and themes...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 24 2003 08:15 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato

Rob Nelson

Car Wash marks the point at which defiant blaxploitation turned decisively into upbeat crossover entertainment.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 21 2009 07:28 AM

City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

tomato
3/4

Norman Whitfield's great musical score is integrated into the movement of the scenes to give the film a funky rhythm.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 23 2008 09:44 AM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato

Variety Staff

Uses gritty humor to polish clean the souls of a lot of likeable street people.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 05 2008 03:15 AM

Variety

tomato
A-

Dennis Schwartz

It was both a riot and surprisingly had something poignant to say about race relations.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 22 2008 07:45 PM

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

tomato
3/5

Linda Cook

No review available.

comment Comment | Sep., 20 2005 08:06 PM

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

splat
2/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 19 2005 09:12 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato

Vincent Canby

A cheerful, somewhat vulgar, very cleverly executed comedy...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 09 2005 03:16 AM

New York Times

tomato
3.5/4

Roger Ebert

The screenplay and the direction juggle the characters so adroitly, this is almost a wash-and-wax M*A*S*H.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 23 2004 10:35 PM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato
4/5

Ken Hanke

Surprisingly good ensemble comedy with Antonio Fargas a standout.

comment Comment | Aug., 24 2003 04:27 PM

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

tomato
4/5

Carol Cling

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 22 2003 06:38 PM

Las Vegas Review-Journal

splat
2/5

Jules Brenner

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 26 2003 02:29 PM

Cinema Signals

tomato
3/5

Edward Havens

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 26 2003 06:32 PM

FilmJerk.com

tomato
3/5

Jon Niccum

Funny antics with great cast

comment Comment | Jun., 07 2003 06:39 PM

Lawrence Journal-World

tomato
3/5

Nell Minow

No review available.

comment Comment | Dec., 13 2002 07:28 AM

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

tomato
3/5

Brian J. Arthurs

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 08 2002 03:57 PM

Beach Reporter (Southern California)

tomato
3/5

Jeffrey Westhoff

No review available.

comment Comment | Oct., 17 2002 04:09 PM

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

tomato
3/5

Scott Weinberg

One of the best of its ilk.

comment Comment | Jul., 26 2002 10:42 PM

eFilmCritic.com

splat
2/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 26 2002 08:00 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Car Wash

December 12, 2005: Richard Pryor Passes Away at 65
Richard Pryor passed away yesterday morning, and while he's probably best remembered for his incendiary stand-up material (as evidenced in 1979's "Live in Concert,"... More...

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