PIC of the Week – Used Cars
Article series by Ray Schillaci
1980 was a very unusual year for movies. Prestige projects such as Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, and Michael Cimino’s large scale western epic Heaven’s Gate all bombed at the box office. While silly comedies Airplane! and Caddyshack along with low budget horror Prom Night, The Fog, Friday the 13th, and John Travolta as an Urban Cowboy killed it at the box office. It was also the year of a light comedy about working girls doing a 9 to 5 job that grossed over $100M. Audiences were also slamming their money down on The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II, and Private Benjamin.
All of this left very little room for Used Cars, a bizarre black comedy from a young upstart filmmaker that had the audacity to take a once beloved Disney star and turn him into a slime ball used car salesman. A bold move by fledgling director Robert Zemeckis who would later give us the Back to the Future trilogy and Forrest Gump. Kurt Russell reveled taking on the lovable scumbag, Rudy Russo, who would do battle with a rival car lot, winning by any means.
$8M was spent for expensive gags and one of the most ingenious car chases on film (at the time). Of course, that was a paltry sum compared to The Blues Brothers inflated budget of $30M that opened the same year. But, for whatever reason, Zemeckis’ film did not capture the attention of audiences until much later when it arrived on video. Over the years, the film has acquired a cult following.
Originally, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment provided an anamorphic picture with their DVD release, and fans had to put up with a sub-par presentation. Then in 2014, Twilight Time released a Blu, but only made available 3,000 copies. Now, SHOUT! Factory releases the film on Blu in its original aspect ratio at 1.85:1, and it looks fantastic.
Zemeckis and writing partner Bob Gale fashion an absurd story intertwining used car sales and politics. My, oh my, does that sound like the two go hand-in-hand. Russell plays Russo, who will go to any means to sell you a car while trying to bolster money for a shot at the State Senate race. His only obstacles: his overly honest boss, Luke Fuchs, who has consented to fund Rudy’s campaign provided he keeps the business from treading water, and Luke’s nasty twin brother, Roy L. Fuchs, who runs a despicable rival business practically across the street.
For those uninitiated to this now classic comedy, I don’t really want to reveal much more. All that I’ll say is that the game of one-upmanship escalates into absolute hilarity. And, as funny as Russell is, all the other supporting players are just as much fun to watch as well. Looking back, Zemeckis delivered a far more entertainingly funny film than Landis did with The Blues Brothers, and this coming from a Blues Brothers fan.
As mentioned, SHOUT! Factory’s presentation is by far the best picture I’ve seen. Tone and contrast are excellent along with flesh tones. Although, there are times that a few night scenes are a tad grainy, but it’s nothing for fans to quibble about. A high quality 1080p that makes it look practically like a new film.
Sound is offered with either DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and realistically who would go with anything else but the latter. Good separation of sound here. What’s really exciting is that we get to crank up Patrick Williams’ wonderfully exciting score.
Most of the extras are ported over from the original DVD release, except for a new 54 minute interview with writer/producer Bob Gale. Other than that, it’s the same mixed bag from long ago. this includes…
• Commentary with Zemeckis, Gale, and Kurt Russell
• Gag reel
• Outtakes
• Radio spots
Extras are disappointing. But, this is a real comedy gem with a bombastically funny performance by Jack Warden in a dual role. This is worth owning for those that want to add to their comedy collection.
Lowest Price – $22.97 – Amazon
