Car Trouble [1985]

Whilst faintly reminiscent of "Carry On" or "Confessions Of" movies, the clever script and subtleties of dialogue deliver measured, gently-observed humour, rather than belly-laughs and raises Car Trouble some way above the rest of the genre.

Great cameo from punk chanteuse Hazel O'Connor as the frumpy, menacing wife of Julie Walters' would-be lover. Veteran actor Stratford Johns is impressive too as the unscrupulous car dealer.

Hilariously rude central sequence and quite a poignant denouement, as Walters and Charleson resign themselves to the fact that they deserve each other.

It's a shame that this style of movie seems to have gone out of fashion. A minor classic.

Oh and the car's nice too!


A black spot on Julie's career   December 28, 2006
Mr. R. J. MacRae (Manchester, England)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is one of the worst comedies I have endured for some time. With some judicious editing this could make a mediocre episode of Tales of the Unexpected. Instead we are left with an underwritten script, laughable production values, lame slapstick and an even lamer soundtrack which crams in six terrible tunes during the first ten minutes of the movie.

Much of the humour borders on the tasteless when making light of marital infidelity, domestic abuse and air disasters. I grimaced to see wife beating played for laughs.

The main problem is that all the characters in the movie are unlikeable twits who deserve their bad fortune. I found Ian Charleson with his nervous laugh and twitching to be quite irritating. Poor Julie Walters spends half the movie on a car seat clamped in an awkward romantic clinch with a used car salesman. Maybe because of the blood rushing to her head, she veers through several regional accents during the film. If you profess to be a fan of hers, avoid this film!


BRILLIANT MOVIE   May 15, 2007
MONICA53 (ENGLAND)
I LOVE JULIE WALTERS AND AFTER WATCHING THIS MOVIE FOR THE FIRST TIME, MY OPINION STILL STANDS, SHE IS BRILLIANT! THIS MOVIE HAD ME IN STITCHES!


Brilliant.   November 2, 2007
Olive Oil (Wales)
This is a film that requires close proximity to the toilet when watching it. It is absolutely hilarious. I advise any one thinking of getting it to go ahead and do so. I laughed so much watching it I had a headache afterwards.