Zero to Sixty

Perhaps best known as Carl Kolchak and the Old Man character from A Christmas Story, Darren McGavin, who also wrote the screenplay, (under his real name, W. Lyle Richardson) stars as Michael Nolan, a middle-aged loser, whose wife divorces him and leaves him for broke, and screwed over by his slimy attorney (Dick Martin). He eventually befriends Larry (Denice Nickerson), a street-smart teenager, who has a job repossessing cars. Larry is determined to take back a silver Pontiac Trans Am belonging to sexpot socialite Gloria Martine (Joan Collins), who Michael is immediately turned on by. Of course, there's plenty of car chases and crashes and supporting parts from Sylvia Miles as the wacky agency owner, Dick Martin as a slimy divorce attorney and The Hudson Brothers as a trio of morons, who also work at the agency as repo men.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the second greatest repo man movie of all-time! Darren McGavin stars Michael Nolan, a man in desperate need of a job following his recent divorce. He quickly finds one when his car is repossessed. New to the repo game, Nolan teams up with 16 year old "Larry" (Nickerson), a smart mouthed tomboy stolen straight out of THE BAD NEWS BEARS. As the duo cruise around town looking for their wares, a series of madcap encounters ensue including everything from mobsters to a sly vixen (Collins).

That plot synopsis may sound a bit thin and there is a reason for that. ZERO TO SIXTY basically has no plot. What makes the film enjoyable is the energy of Darren McGavin as the put upon husband turned repo man. Had any other actor filled that role, the film would not be as agreeable as it is now. McGavin brings that manic Kolchak liveliness to this character and it makes him awfully hard not to like. There is also pretty good chemistry between McGavin and young Nickerson, who is probably best remembered as Violet Beauregarde in WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971).

This brings me to the film's only really odd point. For the most part this is a breezy 70s comedy that, like the aforementioned BAD NEWS BEARS, teams up an older man with a young girl. The only difference here is that "Larry" actively tries to seduce McGavin's character! Needless to say, it creates some really odd moments. The filmmakers cover themselves by having McGavin shack up with sexier (and older) Joan Collins at one point in the film, but the weirdness returns when McGavin confesses to having thought about "getting it on" with "Larry" at the film's conclusion.

With such a thin plot, the film resembles a television show rather than a theatrical feature. It makes sense when one inspects director Don Weis' filmography; he did episodes of nearly every major 70s TV series from "Happy Days" to "CHiPs" to "Baretta" to "The Man from Atlantis." Actually, this would have been a pretty good ensemble series a la TAXI. Sylvia Miles co-stars as the repo shop owner who is constantly flirting with every man she sees. And 70s comedy/music trio The Hudson Brothers provide some Three Stooges inspired gags and the film's songs. You will definitely be humming the theme by the end because it is extremely catchy and pops up every time the smallest bit of action occurs on screen. Sharp eyed viewers will catch cameos by Dick Martin, Lorraine Gary and Lyle Waggoner. There are also a few nifty car stunts courtesy of Paul Baxley backed by son Craig Baxley (went on to become a successful stunt coordinator and film director in his own right).

I first saw this on cable probably 25 years ago. When it came up on Prime I decided to take a trip down Memory Lane. Some films age better than others...this one not so much. Still, if you enjoy the '70 teens and cars genre (Grand Theft Auto, The Van, etc.), you'll probably find something entertaining in this low-budget car theft comedy. It's always a pleasure to watch Darrin McGavin in comedic roles and he lifts the script (which he co-wrote under his birth name) higher than it has a right to be. The rest of the cast succeeds or fails to various degrees.

The good: Dick Martin as a shady divorce lawyer.

Denise Nickerson as Larry, the teen car thief.

The mediocre: Sylvia Miles as the repo company owner.

Lyle Wagonner as a gay bartender.

The bad: Joan Collins as the same tramp Joan Collins always plays.

The horrendous: The Hudson Brothers during their 15 minutes of fame.

One final note: this film probably falls into the "they couldn't make this today" category.

Darrin MacGavin's Michael character is probably in his late 30's-early 40's. Larry is a 16 year old girl. (actress Denise Nickerson is really 31, looking every bit of 16). While pulling up just short of statutory rape (and Larry tries like heck), Michael resists, but nonetheless there is a creepiness hovering over them. It does gets resolved in the end.

Saw this on cable about 100 years ago it seems, picked it up recently for $5 and found it entertaining enough. This was, I think, a vehicle for "The Hudson Brothers," an all-but-forgotten 70's musical group, tho they're hardly in this, and that's a good thing. They make the Bee Gees in "Sgt. Pepper" look intelligent as they try for "3 Stooges" laughs in this light comedy/actioner.

Worth the second look: Sylivia Miles as a hard-as-nails car repo hag, just- divorced McGavin as a befuddled, bumbling "everyman" caught up in a whirlwind of odd characters/events after his ex takes everything he has and Denise Nickerson, aka "Violet" from Willy Wonka as a tough-but-sweet juvenile. Too bad she quit the biz early on, she was fun to watch. Interesting cameos by Joan Collins and Gordon MacCrae(Curly, from Oklahoma...???!!!).

More amusing character study than laugh-out-loud comedy, a little ugly to look at and Nickerson wanting to sleep with McGavin seemed creepy. If you re- member "Corvette Summer" and liked it you'll probably like this...if you can find it...

Having read the other comments here *prior to* watching this movie, I didn't go in expecting much. Yeah, there's no deep plot here... just a simple one about loony circumstances leading to a friendship and a love based not on pure nothingness (as in many movies) but upon that friendship and sticking up for one another. A simple movie just about that simple concept... with a lot of car chase scenes thrown in.

I didn't realize Denise Nickerson as Violet Beauregarde, but her acting really stood out for me as quite genuine in this movie -- I think it held up against modern day standards for this type of spunky character... and I'm someone who thinks that most 70's movie acting bites a big one. That, and she reminded me of an ex girlfriend almost to a tee, personality-wise. McGavin played very naturally as well... the two obviously had fun working together and stood way above the rest of the cast -- which WAS typically 70's in their performances.

I like this movie.. and might keep it as a nostalgic link to simpler, far more naive, times.