(2001) 1.5 Skyler Miller Ever since their first collaboration on the title track of the Deep Cover soundtrack, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg have shared a musical chemistry that has served both of their careers well. While the two rap stars effectively transplant this dynamic to The Wash, it's too bad they do so in service of a lazy script that gives neither of them much to do. For all of its f-words and weed-smokin', The Wash is surprisingly meek. Structured in an aimless, meandering way that's meant to evoke a laid-back atmosphere, the movie instead comes across as unfocused and sloppy. Using an L.A. car wash as a backdrop for what amounts to a variety of loosely connected vignettes, The Wash delivers some light chuckles but never gathers momentum as it haphazardly skips from scene to scene. The boss' kidnapping, which is ostensibly the plot, literally doesn't start until about 20 minutes before the movie is over. Some segments are funny, such as when a character can't get a voice-activated cell phone to work because he keeps saying "fo" instead of "four," but most are all set-up and no punch line, as in an ultimately pointless sequence involving Sean (Dr. Dre) eating a bad burrito. Every time a new plot thread or character is introduced, the movie briefly shows signs of life, only to fizzle out and hurry on to the next scene. When Sean decides to hire bikini models as car washers, the possibilities are numerous. The payoff? You guessed it, gratuitous shots of women in bikinis. The Wash is at its best when it focuses on the clash between Sean's responsibilities as car wash manager and his friendship with the terminally reckless Dee Loc (Snoop Dogg). Sean tries to have it both ways, but it seems that he'll eventually have to choose between the two. The movie never gives him the chance, though, instead opting for a mildly entertaining but totally out-of-place kidnapping finale that ends just as abruptly and clumsily as what preceded it.

Trailer

The Wash on AllMovie

The Wash (2001)

The Wash

rate it

editor rating

user rating

mpaa rating

flags

Violence
Profanity
Substance Abuse
Sexual Situations

genres

Comedy

sub-genres

category

Feature

directed by

DJ Pooh

countries

USA

release date

November 14, 2001 (USA)

run time

96 min.

produced by

Lithium Entertainment

released by

Lions Gate Films

Submit corrections

by Karl Williams synopsis

This throwback to the frolicsome comedies of the 1970s is from writer/director D.J. Pooh, creator of Friday (1995) and 3 Strikes (2000). Dr. Dre stars as Sean, who's financially strapped and on the verge of losing his home and his car until his roommate Dee Loc Snoop Dogg suggests he join him as an employee at the local car wash. Tensions mount between the pals when the establishment's eccentric owner Mr. Washington (George Wallace) promotes the more mature and responsible Sean over Dee Loc, and Sean is subsequently forced to crack down on his scamming buddy's side hustles and locker room assignations with female co-workers. When their boss is kidnapped, however, Sean and Dee Loc must work together to save their employer, their jobs, and their friendship. Angell Conwell and Tom "Tiny" Lister Jr. co-star in this urban farce flavored with a hip-hop soundtrack.

characteristics

- Car-wash

- Kidnap

- Abduction

- Rescue

- Roommate

- Just For Fun

- Employer

- Boss [employer]

- Friend

related movies