Car Trouble

From the moment Gerald buys his dream car, his nightmares begin. Worrying about his wife getting a powdery residue on the dashboard while cleaning it, her total misunderstanding the difference between a cigar lighter and a radio knob, are the least of his concerns as she proceeds to wreck havoc with the ill-fated Jaguar. This movie might require several viewings to catch all of the subtle humor. In fact, it actually gets better with multiple viewings. His descent into insanity is well justified as theirs is the ultimate marriage heading for disaster. Only "War of the Roses" could perhaps surpass the wonderful dark humor of "Car Trouble". Highly recommended and a solid 10.0. - MERK

I think you have to have a certain warped sense of humour to enjoy this! Julie Walters plays a bored wife who seeks a bit of excitement in a car salesman bit of rough after several years of marriage to the boring Gerald (Ian Charleson, on pretty good form in a film he seems to have been proud of). There is a rather intriguing twist in how horny wife and horny salesman get found out (!).

'Car Trouble' is funny in fits and starts but it really does go too far in places. It is hardly a British classic (although it has now made its appearance on budget DVD in the UK) but if you like that kind of thing, it does mindless comedy pretty well. Interestingly, Walters and Charleson were working together on stage in Sam Shepard's 'Fool for Love' around the same time as this was made so this was probably just a daft sideline for them.

I do. The early films of Julie Walters, like "Personal Services", rely much on her early career as a nurse. She has an infectious laugh and clipped way of talking with her Midlands accent. This film is currently not available (2002) and friends and I have been searching - it has lots of one-liners (always a JW trademark) and builds up to a suitable comic climax (in every conceivable sense). The late Ian Charleson is great as the wimpish Mr Spong. I can't get on a flight now without smirking at the line where JW let's a car salesman know she is an ex-airline stewardess "I used to give out the complimentaries, you know, Tang, that sort of thing". Another British gem of a picture.

Julie Walters, who has gone on to bigger (well, more publicized) and better things, stars as a neglected housewife of an air controller. His new car is the focus of his life. He will not let her touch the bright red machine, but one day she takes it for a "spin." Trouble ensues, including two hilarious instances with a car salesman where they become a bit too "amorous" in the car. The ending fails to supply the climax most of the audience would want, but is nonetheless enjoyable. I would give this four out of five stars simply for the situations depicted. It's no classic, but certainly a lot of fun. Walters is as manic as usual. If you have a chance, see her in "Dinner Ladies," a British comedy series in which she plays the dissolute mother of the star (who also wrote the series). In Dinner Ladies she's neither classy or beautiful, but simply hilarious.

I'm a big fan of Julie Walters. Don't make the same mistake as I did and watch this film. An attempt at comedy that didn't come close to making me laugh once. Very disappointing.