THE WASH (2001)

Written & Directed By: DJ Pooh 
Cinematography By: Keith L. Smith 
Editor: Jack Hofstra 

Cast: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, George Wallace, DJ Pooh, Bruce Bruce, Kent Masters-King Tommy Chong, Lamont Bentley, Angell Conwell, Kurupt, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Rashaan Nall, Alex Thomas, Marcia Wright, Pauly Shore, Xzibit, Shaquille O’Neal, Ludacris 


With the rent due and his car booted, Sean has to come up with some ends...and fast. When his best buddy and roommate Dee Loc, suggests that Sean get a job busting suds down at the local car wash, the first order of business is impressing Mr. Washington the gun-toting, dominoes-playing owner of The Wash. Unaware that the two are roomies, Mr. Washington hires Sean as Dee Loc's supervisor. Comic tensions flare between the two, especially when Dee Loc suspects Sean of trying to slow his roll with the side hustles he's got going on in the car wash parking lot...and with the ladies in the locker room. But there are bigger things to worry about at The Wash. One is the menacing phone calls from a disgruntled employee, and the other is figuring out how to get money to pay off the kidnappers who've snatched Mr. Washington! If Sean, Dee Loc, and the rest of the gang don't settle their differences and get Mr. Washington back, the good times at The Wash

I would cite the movie for lack of ideas, but it takes the frame work from the film CAR WASH that seemed more random, Yet inspired. Only here there is more of a background narrative that makes little to no sense, but at least sets up our leads and their history. It seems like a film that came out at the time that should be a no brainer, but needs a little more effort to be entertaining and sell more tickets and to capitalize on the popularity of the leads. As it comes from one of the writers of the film FRIDAY. It seems there was hope that his film would follow that films trajectory and success. Only that film Was actually funny and didn't seem insulting to the audience.

Unfortunately most of the humor is sophomoric, stereotypical and dumb. It’s like when there was the comedy boom in the 90's and while you had the talented comedians on DEF COMEDY JAM. You also had the comedians who though they were funny by having jokes that ended in dirty cursing punchlines. That is what this film feels like it’s humor is based in. Including An unecessary sex scene to convince us of how good a lover and ladies man Snoop Dogg.

The film seems like a chance to captialize on the star's fame at the time and an opportunity to do a soundtrack, That would be a hit and have an accompanying movie to go with it. Though it seems they needed more time to accentuate the material. Rather then just through them in a familiar scenerio and build around it. Especially with non-comedic actors

The film seems written as if someone hated Dr. Dre as his character is a jerk who eventually gets his comeuppance but is supposed to still be out lead. As throughout the film everyone seems to hate him until the end. His character gets so beat up. As at first he seems to be the only character who has sense. Then lets power get to his head and loses out on romance and noting in his life ever gets resolved due to the films sudden focus on a kidnapping plot. Which really doesn't matter as his character arc really makes no sense. As it is quietly erratic. Maybe as in real life he was the most successful financially they made him the butt of most of the jokes.

The film also lacks not only the improvised freestyle nature of CAR WASH, but also the background characters. As barely any of them get anything to do. Nor do we get to know anything about them. Not like the leads is anyone likeable at all in this film. The female characters come across as more punished for being in the film. As they all seem to be pieces of meat and used more for comedic purposes than any positive characterization.

Very randomly does this film provide any real laughs or comedy intentionally. The movie seems more like a skit movie as we watch days in the life of the staff of the car wash. And their reactions to things that happen that again aren't usually too funny and when the film is funny. It is more at random and. It for very long and very little build up or follow through.

While rarely could this film be called funny. The film seems more like a loose bunch of skits tied together rather thinly with a narrative thread with the same characters in each sketch.

It’s a shame as the supporting cast are all talented but they are saddled with his lame script that seems just to be written so some rapper/producers Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre could Star is a low budget easy film. To appeal to teenagers 

It seems strange that two middle aged rappers being in a film made to appeal to youths. Especially when they are both too old for their characters to be in so much of a rut.

Snoop Dogg’s character is Mr. Cool in all situations while constantly getting high and having fantasies about being a pimp. While Dr. Dre is the uptight responsible one who the film meals it seem like power goes to his head. Because he wants to be responsible and after getting crapped on through most of the film decides to use success to make himself feel better.

The film is filled with stereotypes that are insulting but then the film takes a left turn in the third act that comes from nowhere that involves a kidnapping.

The one thing I can say about the film is at times it is funny. For a few seconds. Not consistently. I don’t know if it’s a quasi sequel or the imagining of the better, original CAR WASH this falls fully short. 

The other thing is the females in this film are certainly attractive. I only wish they had a better film to be in and more to do. One that doesn’t demean them and cast them as only sex objects. 

Writer/director DJ Pooh has proved he is a funny writer. As he was co-writer if FRIDAY with Ice Cube and from examine their projects separate from each other. It becomes apparent DJ Pooh was the writer of the comedy bits. Ice cube was the person who added structure and a thorough plot which DJ Pooh’s projects tend to lack as much as Ice Cube’s usually weak humor. Though from this and the film 3 STRIKES pooh’s material isn’t that great on it’s own


Grade: F