A Film that is so out-of-print that the only DVD I could find didn't even have a Menu on it. Yes, Kids, DVDs- those round things older Adults still use- usually have, at the very least, a Menu for Scene Selection. Not this one- it just plays.
DC Cab is a 1983 Comedy by, of all people, the late Joel Schumacher. Before he was ruining Batman, he was glorifying Cab Drivers. One Star would come out of this one to break out in TV and Wrestling- Mr. T.
The rest of the Cast is just bonkers though. The Barbarian Twins (who've punished Bob and myself with Films), Gary Busey, Marsha Warfield, Adam Baldwin, Paul Rodriguez, Whitman Mayo, John Diehl and Bill Maher are all in this.
To see what fresh insanity comes from this random Cast and Director, read on...
A young man- Baldwin- goes to D.C. to see his Uncle, who runs a Cab Company.
He just wants to do it to honor his Dad, who just died.
Of course, his Dad wasn't a Cab Driver, so...sure.
The first 20 minutes or so are just set-up as he takes a trip with each of the Drivers.
Highlights include...
* Busey stealing a stripper's underwear after she refuses to pay.
* Rodriguez as a reckless Driver
* The Twins being strong.
* Mr. T taking his Niece with them to keep her away from these random rich guys who keep hanging around her. Weird and never explained.
The only bit of build-up we have- which is not clear at first- involves one of the Cabbies driving 2 Maids to a Diplomat's House. Their 2 kids- who look like a young Harry Potter and Hermione- egg the car.
Meanwhile, they all ignore a Nun who stands at the Gate with a camera. Nothing to see here!
A random Sub-Plot involves Warfield being robbed (off-screen) by some men. The same ones attack the Cab that Baldwin is in, but they drive it to the Station.
In an eerily-prescient bit, the Cops grab the Black Driver when he takes their gun. How things have changed, right? Right?
The other B-Plot of note involves Baldwin wanting to date a young woman- the Granddaughter of the woman who runs the local Diner.
Can he earn a chance with her?
The Film's first 'All is Lost' Moment involves them finding a Violin to get the reward money...only for the Owner's Wife to take it all.
That's...legal?
Baldwin uses the money he brought with him- secretly, it is thousands of dollars- to renovate D.C. Cab.
This becomes a problem when the Nun from earlier turns out to be a lookout for kidnappers, who take the kids and Baldwin.
Since he 'suddenly came into money,' the FBI thinks that he's in on it.
He manages to call the others for help and gives them an ominous hint- he just saw Bruce Lee.
They find a Farmhouse belonging to Bruce Leigh, but that's not it.
They find them, have a big chase and save the day.
The Film then ends with a long Credit Sequence/Musical Number over shots of them getting a Parade. The End.
A fun, loud Film that didn't have alot to say. That said, it was pretty enjoyable, even if the lack of Plot throughout wasn't that great.
The first Act is just a series of Sketches basically with a loose theme. It actually gets a bit less focused after that before we get to the Kidnapping Plot.
It's one of those Films where this is just so much and so little going on. It would have been a really good start to set up a Show...but we got a Film instead. It's worth tracking down if you love this kind of dated, often-awkward stuff. Speaking of awkward, look who they thank in the Credits...
Next up, a Classic Tale becomes a Cartoon...even though it is very much not for kids. Watch what you drink, kids! Stay tuned...
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