Robert Zemeckis released an R-rated comedy starring Kurt Russell calledUsed Carswhich is surprisingly very dark. Zemeckis is best known for his incredibly popular and classic films such asForrest Gump,Back to the Future, andCast Away.Zemeckis made his feature film debut with 1978’s historical comedyI Wanna Hold Your Hand, which follows two fans who attempt to sneak into the Beatles' hotel in New York City before their American debut onThe Ed Sullivan Show.
WhileZemeckis is known for his collabs with Tom Hanks, he has also worked with several other stars such as Kurt Russell inUsed Cars, which was just his second directorial effort.Used Carsis one ofRussell’s career-best comedic performances, even though the actor is best known for his dramatic roles in classic movies such asTombstone,Escape From New York, andMiracle. While Zemeckis has made plenty of comedy movies,none of them have been rated R besidesUsed Cars.
Used Cars Is Robert Zemeckis' Darkest Comedy Movie
It’s his only comedy movie with an R-rating
Used Carsis by far Robert Zemeckis’s darkest comedy movie. It is the only film he has directed that received an R-rating until 2012’sFlightstarring Denzel Washington, which is obviously by no means a comedy. Because of this,Used Carsbelongs in a rare category of Zemeckis films that push the envelope of conduct within its content. While today’s standards might giveUsed Carsa PG-13 rating, it was given a rating of R in 1980 by the MPAA fordepictions of sexual situations and profanity.
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Since Zemeckis was still young in his directorial career, it makes sense that if he were going to have an R-rated comedy it would appear in the early stages of his career.Used Carswas mostly appreciated by critics, earning it aRotten Tomatoes critic score of 77%. Vincent Canby ofThe New York Timeswrote in his review ofUsed Cars, “A foul-mouthed, bumpercrunching farce that is often funnier in theory than in fact but, even so, is a movie that has more laughs in it than any film of the summer except Airplane!” It did not win overRoger Ebert, however, who said that the “two young filmmakers seem to be higher on kinetic energy than on structure and comedic instinct.”
Used Cars Is Still Robert Zemeckis' Only R-Rated Comedy
Zemeckis is mostly considered a kid-friendly filmmaker
Because Zemeckis has only made two R-rated films in his career,Used CarsandFlight, it’s unlikely that he will enter that territory again. His most recent filmHerewas a PG-13 drama and he hasn’t made a true comedy sinceUsed Cars. With other works such asRomancing the StoneandThe Polar Express,Zemeckis is essentially regarded as a family-friendly filmmaker, which makesUsed Carsa clear outlier in his filmography. Regardless of how it stacks up to his other more notable works,Used Carsis still a classic deep cut from the early years of the believed director.
Used Cars
Cast
Used Cars is a comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis, featuring Kurt Russell as Rudy Russo, a cunning used car salesman. The film portrays Russo’s attempts to outsmart his unscrupulous competitors and save his dealership from foreclosure. Characterized by its satirical take on the used car business, the film also stars Jack Warden in a dual role as competing brothers Roy L. Fuchs and Luke Fuchs.
