Robert Zemeckis Films Ranked: #11 – ‘Used Cars’ (1980)

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#11

in my ranking of Robert Zemeckis’ films.

It appears that Robert Zemeckis’ earlier, low-budget films showcase his unique charm without the complications of large-scale productions. His intricate plotlines, vibrant characters, and lively storytelling are reminiscent of Christopher Nolan, but with a lighter, more playful touch. A classic illustration of their collaborative prowess can be seen in the film “Used Cars”.

The film starts off with a stunning long take from Zemeckis, starting high above a dirt road in mid-air over a car, moving down to reveal another car below where a man is working underneath, and then focusing on the odometer that mysteriously resets to show thousands of miles more than it should. Out steps Rudolph Russo, portrayed by a young Kurt Russell, who is a used car salesman with ambitious plans to enter local politics through donations. He’s given up most of his possessions but still needs an additional $10,000 to reach the $60,000 required for membership. However, the auto lot he works on is the struggling sibling of a successful one across the street, both owned by brothers – Luke, the kindhearted owner of Rudolph’s lot, and Roy, the owner of the prosperous lot. Jack Warden delivers remarkable performances as both brothers, with Roy coveting Luke’s lot and having attempted unscrupulous tactics to acquire it thus far, without success.

In a surprising turn of events, Luke succumbs to a heart attack, leaving Rudolph in a predicament – he can’t claim the promised $10,000 if Roy inherits the lot and demolishes it. Faced with this insurmountable obstacle, Rudolph conceals Luke’s body and takes over the lot, using unconventional methods to run it his way. This is where the film becomes hilarious, as Rudolph engages in outlandish schemes.

For instance, he hijacks the broadcast of a local football game, inserting an impromptu commercial that accidentally exposes female nudity, which surprisingly boosts sales. He then hires strippers to dance atop cars, coinciding with Roy’s family-friendly carnival promotion across the street – another move that unexpectedly increases sales. Throughout this wild ride, Rudolph employs questionable ethical practices, making the movie a humorous spectacle of absurdity.

Amidst all this chaos, Luke’s presumed-lost daughter, Barbara, makes an appearance. Eager to rekindle their relationship, things take a dark turn when Rudolph, in his quest for $10,000 for his political ambitions, secretly buries Luke on his property. To complicate matters, Rudolph develops feelings for Barbara. When she uncovers the deceit, she’s appalled by his plan to exhume Luke, disguise it as a return from vacation in Miami, and stage a car accident involving Luke’s corpse doused in gasoline to cause an explosion. She evicts Rudolph from the property, attempts to take control, and films a commercial that Roy exploits to make her say something false. Using his political connections, Roy manipulates this into shutting her down. However, Rudolph steps in to save her. The controversy surrounding her business arises because she claimed to have extensive car stock when in reality she only had a few dozen vehicles on her lot. Roy, with his influence in the governmental circles, pursues her aggressively, threatening to close her operation entirely.

In simpler terms, Rudolph asks Barbara to claim she has lots of cars. To connect the statement with reality, Rudolph will utilize a series of events set up early in the movie. For instance, there’s a distant car lot filled with hundreds of old vehicles that Rudolph could have purchased but didn’t. Additionally, there’s a driving instructor from the local high school who needs practice for his numerous students. The story unfolds into an exciting and humorous chase as Rudolph and Barbara manage to get the group of students to the cars and then back to the lot.

Indeed, all things work out in the end, and there’s nothing overly difficult about the movie due to its breezy feel. However, Rudolph’s departure from his political aspirations could have been handled more effectively. As he witnesses the machine reduce his new love into dust, it becomes clear why he walks away, but it feels somewhat overlooked later on. The beginning is a bit sluggish and protracted, yet everything eventually proves worthwhile in the end. Nonetheless, I found this early Zemeckis production quite delightful.

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2025-01-15 00:31