Die Chaotenclique

The 4 erroneous assumptions made in the making of D.C. Cab:

• Casting out of comedy clubs garuantees that said comedians will be funny on-screen as they trample through even the blandest of scripted "comedy".

• Audiences won't mind that Mr T, despite being on the poster, video boxes and all other advertising related to film is actually a small cog in the comedy wheel.

• Devoting a large narrative strand to where-are-they-now?/who-were-they-then? regular Irene Cara will ensure timeless appeal to Irene Cara fans for years to come.

• Idealistic Adam Baldwin is not made of cardboard.

These failings aside, the movie offers a few ace Busey moments (You ever done drugs/I don't remember.).

In short, it's an ensemble comedy, in the same Hollywood line that gave the world Revenge of the Nerds, the Police Academy movies, and Summer School. This movie sits somewhere below these. The cast is a little overcrowded, with too much of the "plot" devoted the weakest parts of the ensemble.

Just out curiosity: How hard is it to write a movie around Mr T or Gary Busey? It seems that too often T is forever looped into heavy-with-a-heart-of-gold roles, while Busey just gets 2nd bananas, villains and maniacs.

D.C. Cab is one of those films that make you forget where you are, who you are and what's going on. It embodies everything you want in an early 80s picture, Filth, Humor, Upbeat Music, Attitude and Mr. T! Joel Schumacher and Topper Carew's script is very quick, brash and downright hilarious. Having seen Alex Cox' 'Repo-Man' I was accustomed to the raw gritty nature of those films that you saw in that era. The film never has a dull moment and it's full of energy(pay attention to the scene where they try to rescue Albert from the kidnappers) and when Adam Baldwin proves he's not chicken dung by refusing to surrend cab fare to a hood. Loud and Confusing the lack of rationality and reason pays off in D.C. Cab. A lot of noteworthy and in your face performances by The Barbarian Brothers, Charles Barnett, Max Gail and Marsha Warfield to name a few. Diversity works and this film proves it as we see so many walks of life and personality. There are a lot of good one-liners in this movie and they still stand the test of time...most are produced by the mouth of Gary Busey(He had to be on coke during this, he was off the wall bananas!)

D.C. Cab is a definite must-keep for the DVD-Aficionado and for those who want to laugh, feel nostalgic or just want to get lost check this out. In my opinion D.C. Cab is severely underrated and deserves plenty of accolades. I still chastise myself for not knowing it existed until I caught a preview on VH1's "I love the 80s 3-D". Oddly enough, I wasn't optimistic when I began watching it but afterward I was entertained beyond expectation and I watched it again! Joel Schumacher should be proud of this movie as for the last 10 years most of his films turned out forgettable. A must see!

8/10

In the winter of 1983 I was 12 and saw this film with a childhood friend at a theater that carded no one. Ha! My parents would have killed me. Then him. The theater was a show in itself every time we went. Our town was full of meth cooking bikers and there was a rival biker fight (complete with broken whiskey bottles for weapons) while my aforementioned friend and I were trying to watch Time Bandits. We snuck up to the front row to continue watching the movie, and hoped no one pulled a gun in there. Memories. ;) I had seen the R-rated Blade Runner with my dad the year in earlier in 1982, and I felt like such a grown-up. I remember noticing Bill Maher's nose in D.C. Cab, but didn't remember doing that or him being in the film until I watched it again in 2011. It is also nice to watch a movie where black characters feel comfortable enough to call stupid white people crackers. Loud, brash, fun, wacky movie. Awesome.

Movie I will watch anytime it's on. The cast is a 70's and 80's who's who: Max Gail, Paul Rodriguez, Mr. T, Bill Maher, Whitman Mayo, Marsha Warfield, Gary Busey. Most are still alive, do a sequel!

It's vulgar, sexist, racist and extremely stupid in several parts. Perfect family picture.

Any film with Mr. T, Gary Busey and Barney Miller's Det. Wojohovitz as cabbies who try to foil a kidnapping plot, find missing violins and learn all about self-worth is a solid rent, especially when mixed with the "Animal House" slobbery that makes this crass crew so likeable.

Don't go in expecting Preston Sturges. Maybe Laurel and Hardy....

Three stars. And if you want a cabbie to drive you to Hell, travel light.