The 80s - Used Cars (1980): "...Fifty bucks never killed anybody!"

J.R. MacReady · 01-01-2009, 02:43 AM

USED CARS (1980)

Ruddy: "...I'm telling ya, my boss sees these figures, he's going to have a stroke!"
Charlie: "...Fifty bucks never killed anybody..."

Synopsis/Plot (From "This Distracted Globe" Blog): At the dusty “New Deal Used Cars” lot, Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) sets out to steal some business from his competition, insufferable prick Roy L. Fuchs (Jack Warden). Rudy ties a $20 bill onto fishing line and lures one of Fuchs’ customers across the street, almost running him down in traffic. Rudy’s boss, the lovable Luke Fuchs (Jack Warden in a dual role) doesn’t endorse such tactics, but Rudy needs $10,000 to buy his way into office as a state senator. Luke offers to give him the money.

Rudy’s co-workers include a car salesman with a litany of superstitions (Gerrit Graham) and a narcoleptic mechanic (Frank McRae). Luke suffers from a heart ailment and becomes a target of his twin brother, who believes he’ll inherit the lot if Luke dies. After going on a wild test ride with a demolition derby driver that Roy sends over, Luke indeed drops dead. Still in need of his $10,000, Rudy convinces his buddies to help him bury their boss on the lot - in his favorite old car - so they can hold onto their jobs.

Implementing a variety of schemes to drum up business – hacking into a football game with an amateur TV ad – Rudy’s dream is threatened by the appearance of Luke’s daughter Barbara Jane (Deborah Harmon). Attempting to distract her, Rudy instead falls in love. The ruse doesn’t last, and Barbara Jane fires the delinquents once she inherits the lot. Rudy obtains the cash he needs to become a senator, but comes to Barbara Jane’s rescue when her false claim of having “a mile of cars” threatens to shut down her business.

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CAST:
Kurt Russell... Rudolph 'Rudy' Russo
Jack Warden... Roy L. Fuchs / Luke Fuchs
Gerrit Graham... Jeff
Frank McRae... Jim
Deborah Harmon... Barbara Jane Fuchs
Joe Flaherty... Sam Slaton
David L. Lander... Freddie Paris
Michael McKean... Eddie Winslow
Michael Talbott... Mickey
Alfonso... Arau Manuel
Al Lewis... Judge H. H. Harrison
Woodrow Parfrey... Mr. Chartner
Dub Taylor... Tucker

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Man, I know its been said a dozen times before I ever managed to rent this movie, but, damn, Used Cars is pure unadulterated Hilarity! I expected a cut and dry comedy and got something I managed to watch three times (once with equally funny Commentary by its director, Robert Zemeckis, writer Bob Gale, and Kurt Russell) and still laugh almost as hard as I did the first viewing. It was even better watching it with my parents, who loved this movie when it came out -28 years ago. The sheer raunchiness of the movie didn't even bother me.