joby-75161 This movie is pure genius. Thanks to Director Michael Schultz and screenwriter Joel Schumacher. So many interesting unique characters all struggling in their own way. I was rooting for all of them. I believe this movie is underrated. It highlights the great comedians of the comedy store Los Angeles in the 70's. George Carlin, Franklin Ajaye, Richard Pryor, Professor Irwin, Garret Morris,Jack Kehoe, and utilizes an ensemble cast with unexpected depth and heartfelt climax. This movie also has one of my favorite performances of Richard Pryor at the peek of his talents. I love the soundtrack but I think it permeated pop culture and was somewhat overlooked as a film. Love it.

gavin6942 "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.

MARIO GAUCI This 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!

Benjamin Wolfe The 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. (****)