Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?

I still love this despite how dated it is. The folks at Disney made quality TV shows back in the day. To bad "The Wonderful World of Disney" isn't on-the-air with this kinda wholesome entertainment.

This Disney short is director Ward Kimballs' tribute to car culture of the late 1960s, also focusing on one young mans' trials and tribulations as he goes through the steps of becoming a licensed driver with his own car.

Narrated engagingly by young Disney star Kurt Russell, this is an often VERY funny short that would often get shown during drivers' ed courses. One of my favorite parts was the young lead using a "simulator" to test his handling of a vehicle on busy streets. It was just hysterical when the machine controlling the eight simulators started to break down. Kimball also utilizes a very avant-garde approach; the short is mostly live-action, but uses various animation techniques that are highly striking, and add to the overall mirth.

What is far and away one of the brightest sequences involves a used car salesman (Spencer Quinn) shamelessly extolling the "virtues" of various lemons, in a priceless parody of a standard used-car TV ad. The guy speaks at a speed of roughly a mile a minute!

You also get to see a variety of very colorful and interesting cars, some of which were decorated in the most garish ways possible, for a contest held by Disney.

The often hilariously ridiculous music score is just the icing on this particular cake, which ANY person eager to start experiencing driving (and even their parents) can easily appreciate.

Eight out of 10.

This relic of a short film starts with a teen going through the process of attempting to get a driver's license. It quickly becomes sidetracked with just about every imaginable topic relating to cars.

Such things as dune buggies, drag racing, custom paint jobs and car shows are discussed. It often attempts to be humorous but instead the film is dull, drawn out and even sexist at times. None of the people in the film are actually heard. Instead, everything is done in narration and voiceovers. Sorry, but I can't stand that.

There is nothing educational or interesting about "Dad, Can I Borrow The Car?". It's just another piece of mindless filler to take up time on their "Wonderful World Of Disney" TV show. 1/10

This is a great movie to prep young students for the real world of Driver's Ed and getting your first car. Although the hairstyles and car styles have changed slightly since 1970, the basic ideas remain the same. From the fast-talking used-car salesman to the horrific DMV tester, no detail is left out. Rent it, show it to your teenager, and see if they still ask, "Dad, Can I Borrow the Car?"

I have to agree totally with a previous commenter and if the earlier individual hated it so much, there's a thing called an off button. Personally, I have been looking for this episode for many years and have yet to find it (like I did for Lt Robin Crusoe USN which I finally found). There is nothing in this movie/episode that is objectionable, it's full of the sporadic, spontaneous Disney magic that makes these Wonderful World of Disney episodes so, well, wonderful. The mixture of animated scenes mixed in with live acting is a Disney staple and follows the story line exceptionally. I watched this when it first came out in the early 70's and I haven't forgotten it almost forty years later. Of course, it may have been one of those moments that turned me into such a gear-head, but hey, Hot Rods rule. Unless someone has removed your funny bone, give this one a chance. I've seen it several times through the years and it never loses it's appeal.