Cadillac Man

Robbin Williams stars in this wickedly amusing and ocassionally hilarious film about a car salesman having the worst few days of his life. Williams plays Joey, a car salesman who is juggling 2 girlfriends, had to deal with his wife wanting more money, a ganster wanting payment on a gambling debt and a boss who wants him to seel 12 cars in two days or he will loose his job. On top of that We have Tom Robbins as the husband of an employee who breakes into the dealership with an automatic weapon demanding to know who has been sleeping with his wife. The film suffers from a boring first half that seems to be going nowhere fast and only has a few scattered laughs but then begins to succeed due to the great chemestry between Williams and Robbins. It may not be perfection but because of great performances from the two leads, many laughs and a heart felt ending this one is a winner in my books.

It's 6.5 out of 10 stars for me for this dramedy that should have stayed nearer to drama toward the end.

What's great about it: Williams' performance. I don't think people were ready, at this time of his career, for a nuanced performance, but that's what this is. He breaks into being the crazed Williams of talk shows only twice, and briefly, during this film. Otherwise he is convincing as a middle-aged car salesman with complicated relationships and the absence of a long-term plan. His excellence at sales isn't limited to cars; he can talk many women into bed, and that's his downfall.

Robbins is also good as a stupid, jealous husband with a gun.

What's not as good: the supporting characters at the car dealership were under-written. The Chinese restaurant and police captain stuff was awful. I can't stand Fran Drescher, and I can't stand her here. (If you like her, you'll like her here.) The dog she's carrying was used too much, and I realize the yappiness was supposed to heighten the tension, but mostly it made me want to look for my own gun or consider shutting off the DVD. I never did see that his sacrifice during the hostage-taking was fully motivated. (Seems drastic to be willing to die just to avoid a stressful day.)

I did like the character of the ex-wife and that of the wannabe awful clothes designer girlfriend #2, played well by Lori Petty. Also, I liked the bizarre opening scene which is in the middle of a funeral procession. There's a how-to writing book I once read that said, bring all your characters on stage with their (attributes) flying. This opening scene did just that, so kudos to Ken Friedman.

it's my theory that following the "success" of Dead Poet's Society, Robin Williams began a personal crusade to produce the most cloying, annoying, politically-corrected, sickeningly sappy body of work of any star in the history of Hollywood: Patch Adams, Centennial Man, Toys, Good Will Hunting, Mrs, Doubtfire, Jack, etcetera, ad nauseum, and the newest and most worthy contender to the body of dreck: Death to Smootchy.

But lo and behold, one year after the turning point, when Robin changed from quick witted comic to pedantic instructor to the lessor informed than himself, this little gem is released.

What other film has ever cast the salesman as the hero. Not a tragic failure, but a force of life. A hero, who "sells" the emotionally disturbed gunmen to surrender and not hurt anyone. The salesman who is the only possible hero to save this day!

He sells cars to everybody. He sells himself to multiple girlfriends far more attractive than himself, because he is the consumate salesman. I dare anyone to name me one work of literature or film who's creators were incorrect enough to find good, not bad, in the salesman. Contrast this with the very correct Glengarry Glen Ross, the result of David Mamet's never-ending search for the ugly underbellies ruining the world wherever he gazes.

Salesman as "force majeur"! And Robin Williams performance is perfect. Oh Robin, the saddest words of kith and kin are surely these: it might have been. Thanks you for this gem of a film standing out from the horrid body of work you have left us.

Not Robin Williams's greatest movie by any stretch, but still pretty funny, "Cadillac Man" casts him as car salesman Joey O'Brien, whose life is falling apart. His marriage is in the toilet and he has to sell 12 cars or he loses his job. Just when it seems that things couldn't get any worse, angry husband Larry (Tim Robbins) hijacks Joey's lot. From there, it's mostly a series of gags.

This seems like the sort of movie that they just made for fun. And it is pretty fun. Don't expect any life-changing experiences from watching it (e.g., Williams doesn't launch into any wacky monologues); just sit back and enjoy. I don't understand how a previous reviewer thought that this movie relates to quantum mechanics (but then again, I don't know anything about quantum mechanics). Also starring Fran Drescher and Annabella Sciorra.

Robin Williams sells Cadilacs at one of those lots that dot post-industrial North Queens. He loves selling cars, and he loves women. That's a lot of women, including his ex-wife and three girl friends, one of whom is married. So when Tim Robbins comes in with a plastique bomb because he thinks Williams is making love to his wife, Williams has to sell him on the fact that he shouldn't do that. And the thing in common with all good salesmen is they believe in what they're selling, whether it's true or not.

Most of the movie is Williams driving around from one neatly compartmentalized part of his life to the other, breaking the fourth wall to chat with the audience. The scene with Robbins, however, is some top notch acting, sounding wholly unrehearsed by both both men.... and quite mad. Those sequences make this a great movie.