MovieChat Forums > Used Cars (1980) Discussion > Funny, but here are a few things WARNING...

Funny, but here are a few things WARNING!! Spoilers!!

posted 17 years ago by markofkane
16 replies | jump to latest

1. The rock that Jeff put in front of the back tired mysteriously disappears after "Toby" got "run over"

2. 250 cars. In real life, they would not all start. After sitting so long, the battery would go dead, and the fuel would also go bad. Most junkyards I've been to have very few cars that actually run, and if they did, they would not all be in good condition, and getting all those cars to the lot on time, without any breaking down, is a miracle. (I am not counting the one that was trashed by the police car)

3.The blocking of President Carter's address: How would they know what President Carter was going to say?? Jeff, as the "Sheriff" Kept saying "Did you hear what I said?" And Jimmy Carter says "I have heard you, with unmistakable clarity"

4.Pacemaker. That needs no explanation (ok, if that guy could build a pacemaker, why did he not works for medical suppliers??)

5. Luke's last ride. What are the chances that a car would follow a perfectly straight line without being guided?? Luke was dead, so he could not guide it into the power substation.

6. The pit. What was the pit used for prior to putting the Edsel with Luke in it?

That's all I can think of for now. I love the movie, but it's not 100% believable.

[–] oxblood 17 years ago

It's just a movie, kid. Who said it's supposed to be believable? It's supposed to be funny and it is.

[–] markofkane 17 years ago

Kid?? Thanks. I am a 44 year old kid.

I know it's supposed to be funny. But just certain things are noticeable when you get older.

[–] CromeRose 17 years ago

That's one of the things that is so great and funny about Used Cars... it has a rough and ready zaniness to it where many things happen that couldn't possibly happen for real (like the Secret Service not being able to recognize Jeff from the commercial while they question him). When you sit down to watch this wonderful comedy classic, you hang up your disbelief and skepticism at the door and just enjoy the fabulous and fun-filled ride!

Watch Bedbug on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QI_1YSXt8Y

[–] markofkane 17 years ago

Yeah. It's a fun movie, and movies that take me away from reality are my favorites (I hate reality shows, they are boring to me). Wendy Jo, although she was about 5 years older than me, sure was cute in that movie. She could barely see over the dashboard!! It's a shame what happened to her. She was great.

But, it's fun to point out goofs, they make the movie even more funny.

[–] HollinsHermione 16 years ago

markofkane, I do agree with you about number 5. How that would work unless the mechanic somehow re-wired the car to be guided by remote control, or unless they tied Luke's hands to the steering wheel so it wouldn't turn?

[–] freudified_n_funkified 15 years ago

"3.The blocking of President Carter's address: How would they know what President Carter was going to say?? Jeff, as the "Sheriff" Kept saying "Did you hear what I said?" And Jimmy Carter says "I have heard you, with unmistakable clarity"

4.Pacemaker. That needs no explanation (ok, if that guy could build a pacemaker, why did he not works for medical suppliers??)"

Okay, so some of your points are valid in that it's not all 100 % believable. Alright. But 3 and 4, those are called jokes.

They didn't know what Carter was saying in his speech, it was supposed to be a happy coincidence on their part. Of course, the scene was written to coincide with Carter's "I have heard you" - but it's just a joke. Not clairvoyance or intentional punctuation on the part of the characters.

And actually, # 4 on your list is one of my favorite bits in the movie. "If I can build and install a pacemaker in this man's chest..." First of all, the device was pretty lo-fi and as you see in the scene didn't always work properly - and second, Freddie was a loon, man.

As far as Luke's last ride goes --- quality alignment. And the pit? It was to get under a car so you could work on it, as illustrated in Jack Warden's first appearance in the movie asleep in it with a car over him.

[–] nigelgtx 15 years ago

TO the OP: Are you for real?
There is almost not one moment of this movie that is for real.
The court case? The sales pitches? The 57' Chevy test drive? The dog?
I could go on and on. This is an extremely funny, and entertaining movie because of the fact that it is not realistic.
I have sold cars for 10 years, nobody is ever going to make realistic movie about it because it would be BOORRRINNNG. Annoying, whining customers, people who can't get financed, cars that won't start, and so on..

[–] djj93312 15 years ago

Plus, "El Guapo" would have been dead for over 60 years by that time.

[–] RobBase086-1 15 years ago

I loved watching this movie and it is a classic! I laughed my head off watching this.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

[–] tdf5g 12 years ago

It's just a movie and most of those things are just set up for jokes. That's what makes it a comedy.

As far as the Edsel going in a straightline, it could have if they tied the wheel. Most cars will track straight if the front end is properly aligned.

The pit was an outdoor grease pit. That's a large hole, deep enough to stand up in, that a car is parked over so it can be greased. Just like at the quick lube joints.

And I agree that this movie is a whole lot more entertaining than any of the fake reality TV shows that are so popular.

[–] RobBase086-1 12 years ago

Yes it is just a movie but it is so entertaining though to watch. I would rather sit and watch this than the crap that they are showing on TV now a days.

I am sure they had it set up for the Edsel to be pulled by that line.

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[–] westal_sage 11 years ago

And so nobody's going to mention that even if every one of the 250 cars was 20' long, it would still be well short of a mile?

[–] PenTheater 9 years ago

That's it, The final straw. I am never watching this movie again, who wants to buy my DVD?

Ephemeron.

[–] SunCanyonRoad 11 years ago

1. It's a simple movie mistake. It happens in alot of movies.
2. Yeah, maybe only 10 of the 250 cars would actually start and run, but then again, it's a movie.
3. They didn't know what Carter was going to say. However, they "knew" he was going to have an "inflation" speech so they themed they're bogus commercial on that. Carter's response was to make it appear he could see the commercial. The filmmakers used an old speech of Carter's and wrote the scene to fit.
4. Freddie and Eddie were "rogue" electronics whiz-kids. The pacemaker gag was used to help sell the fact they could block the President's telecast. Remember if he can build and install a pacemaker in the man's chest, then he surely can bounce a micro-wave off a satellite.
5. All you have to do is lock the steering column and the car will drive reletively straight.
6. The "pit" is a cheap way to work under a car. Early in the movie the 57 Chevy is over the pit and Luke is asleep down in it.

"I'm telling you when my boss sees these figures he's gonna have a stroke."
- Rudy Russo

[–] cookieman108 9 years ago

"That's all I can think of for now. I love the movie, but it's not 100% believable."

I find it odd you came into this film expecting it to be 100% believable. Is this a commonality to all films you view? If so, I'm thinking you're disappointed a lot.