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

What on earth were Ian Charleson and Julie Walters thinking when they signed on for this piece of sub-Carry On drivel? Perhaps the script looked different, or maybe the paycheck silenced all doubts. Whatever, this would have to be the most desperate, telegraphed (not to mention medically impossible) one trick pony I have ever seen involving a prodigal waste of otherwise reliable comic talent. If this film were a car, it would be a Morris Marina

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.

If you think it's boring listening to women talking about clothes you've never been with a bunch of blokes discussing cars.

There was a hilariously nightmarish scene in 'A Shot in the Dark' when Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer got stuck stark naked in the Parisian rush hour traffic. After a slow start this film picks up when Julie Walters (cutting quite a formidable figure in lipstick, eyeliner and big frizzy hair) finds herself in an even worse scrape in this old-fashioned sex comedy which within five years gained considerable poignancy as one of the very few films to star Ian Charleson, subsequently 'outed' by dying of AIDS. Mind you, it's highly improbable that Walters would have married such a nerd in the first place.

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.