#17: Movies Plus Cars

And then it's got, like, the Michael Schumacher Ferrari-raised BMW show.

Look at the Maseratis.

He's like, well, my friend, McQueen, told me this is the greatest place to buy some tires.

Like, could you set me and my friends up with the best set?

And he's just like, he's like, a little Ferrari!

Nice show!

He's McQueen, though!

Slap me right to the face!

Here we go.

Welcome back, Life was Cars Community.

And Brendan, what are we talking about tonight?

Oh, tonight we have got a treat.

We are talking about something that any carperson can appreciate, right?

Movies plus cars or cars plus movies, life plus movies and cars.

However we want to describe it.

Yes, we all have those movies.

Let me get it started with this.

I have to do this one right off the bat.

Just to kind of get it flowing.

Is the movie Stealth, which I don't remember that movie.

So interestingly, so how I organized my list

were the movies that I've seen personally.

I know there are so many movies out there with cars or about cars that I haven't seen.

So talk to me about Stealth, because I haven't seen this one.

OK, so Stealth, I know Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx.

And then I can't remember the other actor, but like they fly these fighter jets.

And it's like they have this AI fighter jet that like gets introduced to the team.

And it's this whole military thing.

But the reason I bring it up is there's a scene.

The movie came out and I want to say 05 or 06.

And there's this scene near the end of the movie

where they're in like this airplane hangar and this guy.

They're like, you need to get out of here.

Like it's going to get bad.

And he gets in a 2005 or six Pontiac GTO.

Oh, and then it's like it's like driving it around the warehouse

and like guns exploding and like, you know, all that.

And he's like in the car like, you know, dang, like this is a nice car.

You know, it's just driving around.

And I was like, hey, I was like, I've got one of those.

I was like, that's right.

You know, you get it.

So right off the bat, that's like you talk about movies plus cars.

It's like I all the time I will watch films and there will be times

where you see a car, whether like I love to the other one is any movie

where there's like any government involvement, right?

Like, you know, whether it's a TV show like Stranger Things

or whether it's a movie like True Lies, Arnold Schwarzenegger or

any movie that has military.

I love the Suburbans because there's all these Suburbans

when it's FBI military police, right?

And I'm always looking for a three quarter ton burb.

And like any time I see him like, yeah, yeah, there it is.

Yeah. So yeah.

So I mean, any car guy does that, you know, they see a car

that they like in a movie and they're like, oh, like I used to have one

of those where I've got that.

No, absolutely.

I love looking for Suburbans who are such as a burb guy.

Oh, immediately.

I look for the eight wheels every time.

I'm just like, oh, yes.

Like it's a three quarter ton.

Yeah, that gets it done.

Yeah. And I'm like, I wonder if it's the 454 or if it's new enough.

Is it the eight one?

Like, oh, is it the six oh, like, oh, it's awesome.

Right. That's just such a classic example of just total

car nut kind of people where I think anybody else watching that

movie just sees like this, this line of just black SUVs.

And then we're just like, oh, no, well, yeah, you're just going crazy

over the Suburbans.

Yeah, I see him and I'm like, that's a three quarter ton.

Then they crash him or like they explode him.

And then I'm like, no, girl, like, oh, why would you do that?

I would do destroy such a beautiful vehicle.

Oh, yeah, that's well, it's funny that actually it brings to mind.

I always think of Jurassic Park with the Y.J.

Wrangler, I mean, I'm such a Y.J. fan.

Yes, I think it's because of Jurassic Park.

I really Jurassic Park.

Yeah, we've talked about it.

Yeah, if I see like a white Y.J.

I'm like, oh, yeah, like, oh, yes.

When I yeah, when I saw Jurassic Park and saw the Y.J.

Jeeps just bombing around that whole movie like, yes, that's what I want.

That's what I want. 100 percent.

And it's yeah, I mean, there's so such iconic 90s like movies,

cars, both that and then the first gen four explorers that are in that movie, too.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

And they've got a model.

I had a model of one of those.

It was painted like Jurassic Park.

I love those. Oh, that's so cool.

Yeah, I mean, just just fantastically 90s.

Those two, the Jeep and the Explorer from from the set.

I just love it so much.

Oh, yeah, I mean, it's just it's amazing how so many different movies, right?

They they can just be take a car that's just so iconic.

And it makes or breaks the movie.

I mean, like, you know, I immediately think of that movie, a baby driver,

right, like Kevin Spacey.

And then I can't remember the younger actor's name.

But it's like the prominent car in that is like a Subaru WRX.

I mean, I'm not a Subaru guy, but it's like, I mean,

that is a driver's car, right?

Yes. And like, I totally appreciate that.

Like in all the stunts they did in that movie, we're all real.

It's like, yeah, like that's that's impressive.

Because in this age of CGI, where you don't even know what's real anymore.

And the fact that they were doing real stunts with that car is that's impressive.

That's another one I need to see.

I the list is growing here for me. Oh, yeah.

I was funny.

Like you talk about like other movies where they did real stunts

like Starsky and Hutch with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.

Oh, with the Torino.

Yeah, with that.

I'm pretty sure all of those stunts were real.

Like even the launching it onto the boat, I'm pretty sure that was real.

I mean, you know, listen, please correct me if I'm wrong on that.

But I'm I'm pretty sure all of those stunts with that car were real.

They had like multiple stunt cars for that.

Yeah, I can believe it.

Yeah, it's yeah, somewhat akin to the general

Dodge Charger, particularly the scene that they launch it out of the boat.

I'm now picturing that whole scene now.

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

And then, of course, you know, you talk about like stunts and crazy movie things.

I mean, Fast and the Furious.

So, oh, yes, we could spend some time on Fast and the Furious.

Yes. So, yeah, I think it deserves some some discussion there.

So I'm truth be told, I've only ever seen the first two.

I. Oh, OK.

So you see the Fast and the Furious in too fast, too furious.

Correct. I never saw.

I haven't seen any of the others.

I have wanted to see Tokyo Drift.

I've heard that one is still very well done.

That's good. I like Tokyo Drift.

Capturing the whole drift culture in Japan very well.

And then I think it just starts to just drop off after that.

As far as it that's just it.

I mean, I agree with you.

I was going to say with Fast and the Furious franchise,

the thing that gets me about it is like the first few movies are more realistic,

right? Yes, yes, like they just gradually got like more and more insane

with like the stuff that they're doing with the cars.

It's like, OK, like I get this is like supposed to be a gigantic

Bloss book blockbuster, you know, action flick movie, right?

I get it. But I mean, they're doing stuff like, you know,

launching a car into a helicopter, right?

You know, spinning around and like, you know, grabbing an oil tanker

and then like, oh, a submarine comes in with nuclear launches.

And it's now the cars put out 2000 horsepower.

We're going to say it's like, guys, now they're in space.

It's like, what are we doing here?

Like Vin Diesel was just like a space commander now.

And what are we doing here, folks?

Vin Diesel is no master chief.

Yeah, right.

Thinking back to those early movies, they were just just honest

to goodness car movies.

Like they the cars were the central theme that everything came back to.

And I just curious about what your faves from those two series were.

I mean, I I say my two faves are Paul Walker's Skyline

and then that Yanko Camaro from the second one.

All the other Camaro's beautiful.

Yes, I would say those are my top two.

Between the fast and furious and then too fast, too furious.

Yeah, I actually, you know what one of my soft spots is in the entire franchise

is the first movie that kid that gets, you know, spoiler alert for the listener,

the kid that gets shot, his Jetta, the white Jetta.

Yes, I have a soft spot for the Jetta.

I do. I have a soft spot for that.

Because we I mean, we had you had a GLS just like it.

So I was like, oh, that's pretty cool.

I mean, that I'm glad you mentioned that.

I was wondering if you bring it up because that just seems so contrary to everything else.

Like you've got most this like JDM or Japanese tuner import cars.

And then you have this boxy Jetta, which just looks so rad in its own right.

Yes. Yes. So that.

But then my second favorite is I mean, I knew you should know this

just because of my background with muscle cars, but it's, you know,

it's Dom's or like, you know, Vin Diesel's challenger.

Yeah, the charger. It's the black charger, right?

Yes. Yeah.

Because I just for me, like I love the story, right?

It's like, I know it's a movie, but it's like it's his dad's.

Sure.

His dad raced it, had these issues, but it's been the family.

And like his sister thinks it's a death trap and a curse.

And like every time he drives it, he wrecks the hell out of it.

But he still keeps it, still has it.

And I just I love that giant supercharger on it.

Oh, yeah, big blower stick out of the hood.

Yeah, it's awesome.

Oh, absolutely.

And like fun sidebar about that is like the first time I saw that movie,

like that came out in like 2000 or 2001, the first movie.

Yeah.

So when he leaves at the end of the movie, when he does

like the quarter mile drag with Paul Walker.

Yeah, with the super, right?

Yes. And the car does the wheelie.

It's off the line.

Like, I remember watching that with my dad and I was like,

I was like, that's not like, there's no way.

Like, there's no way that that's real.

Like cars can't do that.

And he's like, oh, yeah, they can.

He's like, he's like, I had a friend of mine that had

like a Chevelle back in, you know, in high school or whatever.

And it had like, you know, four, ten rear end or whatever.

And he's like, that thing would lift the front tires off the ground

if he'd like just took off.

It's like, what?

Like, what?

Oh, my gosh.

The amount of torque is insane.

Oh, I love that that was an awakening moment for you to realize,

wait, cars can do that.

Oh, yeah. I was like, what?

Yeah. That's awesome.

It really is that that is such an epic race scene there,

the drag race with those two.

Oh, my gosh.

And try to beat the train and all like, yeah.

Oh, oh, yeah. So, so good.

Yeah. Yeah. The fast and furious.

It's not a bad franchise.

Definitely worth checking out.

Well, then if we're talking like early 2000s movies,

like just to change just a little bit,

one of my favorite car movies when I was at that age,

gone in 60 seconds, Nick Cage, the Nick Cage edition.

Yeah. Oh, my God.

Just all of those cars in that movie just like so hit a soft spot

with my millennial like just, oh, I mean,

that era of the Ferraris and they had like the Jaguar,

like XJR was in there and they had Humvee and they had Mercedes

of the era, right?

Like just all the cars that they stole were just like, oh, yeah.

And of course, of course, Eleanor,

which, you know, spawn like craziness.

I mean, right.

Yeah, that amazing 67 Shelby,

just absolute perfection.

Oh, yeah. That whole chase scene at the end of that movie.

Like, oh, so good.

That is really well done.

Yeah. I mean, I need to watch that movie again.

It's been far too long since I've seen it just to just to see all those cars

again, because you're so red and that there's just it's just a whole.

It's a highlight reel of cars of that like mid 2000s and era of cars.

Oh, yeah. Ferraris Lamborghinis.

I mean, you got you got Mercedes Lagos

and oh, yeah, sixties and all that.

Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

Yeah. Great. Great movie.

Great movie to watch.

And yeah, I also really appreciate like the the detective's car in that.

I think it's like a 540 I or 540 M or whatever.

Oh, like E39.

Yes. Yes.

It's like that car chase with that.

And it's like, oh, man, checks all the right boxes.

Yes. It's amazing.

Like of all the scenes in gone in 60 seconds,

the one that I remember the most is the one when they scout Eleanor.

And it's like Nick Cade, the other guy taking a picture

and then the guy Donnie and they're just like it's in the parking garage,

like underground and they're like, oh, there it is.

You know, and he like goes over and he's like rubbing his hand down.

He's like, it's going to be smooth this time.

Just like, you know, we're just we're just going to fly.

It's going to, you know, and the guys, the camera's like, what's he doing?

And then Donnie's like, he's talking to her, man.

Like they've got a history like he's talking.

He just he just getting reacquainted.

I love that whole thing because it's just like talking to the car

like it's its own personality.

Oh, yeah. I mean, totally.

Like it is its own character in that movie.

Yeah, it's just such an iconic car for an iconic movie.

Just amazing. Yeah.

And I think that's a great thing you've brought up the idea of a car.

We're talking about movies plus cars where the car itself is a leading character.

Right. You were talking about what a true car movie is,

which is like cars that are the main focus and gone in 60 seconds

is a true car movie because it's about cars.

It is right about cars.

But then the other side is cars that are characters in a movie

that just add to the overall story or arc of the story.

Yeah, that's right. Yes.

So gone in 60 seconds is just an absolute tried and true car movie.

There's no question through and through.

What do you got for that's another true car movie that's just about cars?

American graffiti.

Oh, my gosh. Yes. Absolutely.

Yes. Oh, I love this movie so much.

I actually recently saw it two years ago when it was the 50th anniversary of it

and went with a friend and his dad, who he has a 71 challenger

that he's had since high school.

And we went to a movie theater that was screening it.

So we saw it on the big screen.

Love it was so cool to see that film on the big screen as it was intended.

It's Spielberg, right? Yeah.

Yes. Yeah. Yes. It's Spielberg.

Yeah, early Spielberg.

And I mean, just the whole idea early 60s, hot rod, high school,

shenanigans, nonsense that these kids are driving around these amazing cars.

I mean, and I love that it tracks the trajectory of one summer night

before the main character Richard Dreyfus goes off to college.

It came out in the 70s, the movie, but it was based on like like 60s.

That's right. I think it's set in somewhere around, I want to say, like 1962.

So thereabouts.

So many good cars in that movie.

You have Richard Dreyfus, who's in a Duchess, a Citroen, two C.V.

So he's rolling around in this ramshackle Citroen.

And then he's chasing after this girl who's in a T-bird,

like a 55 T-bird that he keeps seeing her drive all around town

and trying to track her down.

And then there, of course, are the two icons of that movie,

which are the yellow deuce coupe, the hot rod there,

and then the black 55 Chevy that Harrison Ford drives.

Yes. Oh, I forgot Harrison Ford within that.

But yeah. Yeah.

And it's just all the shenanigans they get up to.

I mean, it is funny how it's it's the whole movie.

It's just one long sort of meandering night through this

like these high the eyes of these high school kids on a summer night,

late summer, just all the nonsense they get up to.

And it truly is about the cars, I think.

And it's also just a great coming of age story.

The idea that kids are getting ready for college, some are not going.

And who's who's growing up versus who's leaving and who's.

Yeah. So the whole thing is it's such a well done movie.

I mean, that one to me is just in such an iconic American film.

Also a car film like an American car film just through.

Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely.

And I need to rewatch that one.

I remember a little tidbits about it.

But yeah, it is a fantastic movie.

And it is it's it's like you said, it's about.

How much of you could just break it down and say how much of the movie is about kids

or just that era of the freedom that comes with having a car.

That's right. Yes. Absolutely.

Of just like that, that whole thing of it's like before the next period of your life.

And it's this one night, but it all centers around driving around town in these amazing cars.

Oh, you've captured well brought Brendan.

Yes, because yeah, it really is that one night and that just it's all centered

about driving from one place to the next and who you're going to see.

And we all have memories like that.

Oh my gosh. Yes.

Yeah. All those some fun nights in high school or college or whatever.

There's always a memory rolls around the car.

Yeah.

That our lives in college or high school that again, yeah, that was all around the car.

I think that movie.

Merrick Murphy speaks the idea of a coming of age moment that night that you share together

while also looking inward on yourself.

Like where am I going?

Am I like picking up and going into something new or am I driving at circles

literally or otherwise?

So yeah, absolutely.

So let me ask you this.

Let me get you another one is so you talk about like true car movie.

Then we talked about like cars a character in the movie.

What's the next movie you've got that's the car is a character in the movie

because I've got one.

Excellent.

Yours is then I'll talk about mine.

Okay.

My movie I've picked out.

The star of the show.

Speed.

I am speed.

Yeah.

Yes.

Real real gun.

Yeah.

That song hits every time.

Okay.

We'll come back to cars later.

We'll save that for the end of the episode because I feel like we have to save at least

like 20 minutes just to talk about cars.

The movie.

Oh yeah.

One of my favorite animated films of all time.

And one of my favorite car films for sure.

Yes.

Through and through.

Now my movie is a little Miss Sunshine.

Have you seen that?

Oh my God.

I didn't even think that's a great example with the bus.

The bus.

The yellow Volkswagen bus is just.

Yes.

You're right.

Like without that bus.

That movie would not hit the same.

Like all of them.

Greg Kinnear and Steve Carell and like everyone in the bus.

Yes.

Right.

Like that's the family vehicle is the bus.

So that movie so much better.

Yes.

Great one man.

Great one.

That immediately popped to mind how that movie just is centered around the bus.

So much of that movie is just the seven of them in that bus.

Driving down the road.

Whatever shenanigans or pitfalls that they get into the bus itself is an icon.

And it's just such a leading character wrapped up on what's going on in the bus.

Starting off with how like just time again they're having to push it.

They're all get there all out of the van pushing it to try to get it to pop star

and then it's rolling and they're trying to like just throw each other in the van

as it's as it's picking up speed.

And oh my gosh.

And then classic classic.

Right.

So much of that film.

As you said it wouldn't have the same effect if it were just another midi van.

Just like a movie.

It wouldn't have the same effect at all.

Exactly.

If it was a suburban or if it was a grand caravan or yeah.

Or if it was a Toyota Tercel like I mean no matter what it wouldn't be

like the bus.

Yes.

The Westphalia or whatever it was like that.

You know that.

Oh my god.

So yellow.

Some of us.

I mean it's a great example of how that bus was another member of that family.

It saw them through to the little kids pageant and all of that.

And the grandfather dies and they have them in the back.

You like covered up.

You remember that part.

And all that.

They're just like it's just oh my gosh.

And a really well done movie.

There's a particularly I remember seeing where the boy who he doesn't really

speak and then he finds out he's color blind and it just has like a

complete freak out.

And he just goes and runs off the highway and you see the way they

resist the camera angles so good like the boy is just like heart broken

and the bus is perched up on the on the berm there and the whole family

are just running down from it.

But I just love the idea that there it is like up on the hill and the

kid is just like sobbing into the into the dirt.

Just again like just I love the cinematography there that like in

so many scenes there is the yellow bus off to the side or in the

bus.

Yeah.

Just really really well done.

Yeah.

So much of the movie.

And you're right.

Like it's like the bus is not the main character but without it.

Like it is a major side character.

Like that makes that movie.

Oh it's huge.

Yep.

That's a great example.

I didn't even think of that movie.

Mine.

Yeah.

What do you have for us, Brendan?

So for that one for like a car as a character is for me it is

the 80s movie with Chevy Chase vacation.

Yeah.

The family truck.

It's like it's a side character but that trip would not be the

same without having that car.

Like the fake wood sided like you know the wagon heading through

like tying the dog to the back bumper.

Grandma get up on the roof.

I mean just all of it like that just that without having

that car in it.

It just it wouldn't be the same movie.

It wouldn't.

It would.

Yeah.

Yes.

It is it's a definitive character in that movie.

That against similar to.

Absolutely.

If you see one of those you know what was like a country

squire.

It was like an LTD.

Yeah.

Big wood paneling all that.

Yes.

You see one of those you immediately think you know

Griswold.

Griswold family.

Griswold.

Vacation across country.

Yeah.

You see John Candy at you know Mooshland or whatever the

heck the name of the park was.

Oh Wally World.

Right.

Wally World.

That's it.

Yeah.

It's going back to me now.

Yeah.

That movie.

Oh my gosh.

Because even that whole scene where like he goes to pick

it up.

He goes to the dealership and Eugene Levy is like the

car.

Oh sure.

I forgot he's in that.

Yes.

He's just like they take his car and they like immediately

crush it like out back as original one.

Yeah.

This year your car your truckster came in here.

It is.

He's like this is not the car I wanted.

Like yeah it's fine.

And it's that's another one where I mean the car is

such the backdrop for so many scenes between like

Chevy Chase and his wife and the two kids just

getting after like just they're squabbling in the

back seat and cutting to the front seat and then

out of the out of the front of the car.

I mean it's just that it's just it serves as its

own backdrop in so many ways.

Yes it's the quintessential road trip and they just

they they captured it so well.

They really did.

It goes through its various evolutions throughout

the movie series because I know in the Christmas

vacation it's a Ford Taurus that also has

with the fake wood sighting on it.

Yes.

Like an 80 or 89.

Yes.

And that just I mean I just thought of that

immediately how there's the opening scene where

they're like getting chased down by the the

yokeles and the truck and then he gets stuck.

Hey kids look at the air.

Yup.

Because it starts singing Christmas carols and

you know they're all in there.

I immediately think about that scene right

there on Christmas vacation.

Yes.

And he's just like you know.

Fa la la la la la la la la.

Take it rush.

Yeah.

Your son just doesn't sing it.

He doesn't do it.

Fa la la la.

Try to the world and he's just like

and he's just under the lawn truck.

That's just a little bit.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Yeah Clark I don't want to spend the

Christmas holidays.

Oh, that is just so good.

Yeah, the original vacation with the family

truckster that is another icon that it very

much it is absolutely a leading character.

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah.

Yup.

The car is a big part of that.

For sure.

Yes.

Yeah.

I mean, and it just I mean, that's spawned

and that must have, I'm sure, spawned

and it was capitalizing on the whole idea

family wagon road trip.

Like everybody pile into the wagon,

we're going across country, we're going to grandma's

and just how much that was defined by a car like that.

And I think it was very much like an exaggeration

of what was and the American big comfortable wagon

that the whole family would pile in.

And I mean, it's kind of like what if I remember my mom

and my Nancy talking about their big family wagons

that they drove all over the place with.

Oh yeah, the wagons or the big continental or any of those

any of those giant cars are huge.

Oh yeah.

Well, I was going to say, let me ask you this.

What's another one that you've got on your list of either

true car movies or the car is a character in the movie?

Yes.

So is Christine on that list anywhere?

So I didn't put Christine on there because I haven't seen it.

So I tried to stick to the movies that I've seen.

So I can actually speak to like the plot and the characters,

though Christine's on my list.

I think we need to do a life plus cars like movie marathon

here, Brendan.

I think that needs to happen.

No, probably.

Probably.

Because to be fair, I haven't seen Christine

in probably 15 years.

But the fact that that's like a horror movie about a car

that's basically possessed, it's phenomenal.

Like I love the premise of it's like it's

a car that's out to get someone.

Yes.

Yeah.

I mean, it's your take on it as a movie.

I mean, given that you've seen it and just again,

the whole premise of that talk about,

we've mentioned a few where the car itself is not

necessarily a leading character.

Christine is the leading character,

I feel like, from that movie because it's

the antagonist of that whole film.

Yes.

Well, no, it's a Plymouth.

It's a Plymouth sport fury.

Yeah, it is.

It's a fury.

It's like a late 50s Plymouth fury.

And it's a glory that basically just hunts down these people.

And specifically, it just being very, very creepy, you know?

Yes.

Because it's like this car that it's like it's possessed.

And they find that originally like dilapidated,

then it like fixes itself.

It kills people.

I mean, it freaking kills people.

It's like, I mean, it's freaking scary.

It's like a car.

It's this murderous car, yes.

It's a car that is sentient and is murdering people.

And it's like, I mean, I guess you

could say that it's like a play on reality in a sense,

that when you do drive a car, especially older ones,

and you get into an accident, you probably generally died.

But at the same time, the idea of your car

is out to get you is very scary.

Because I mean, they aren't right.

Like if the car is going to crash, it's user error.

Generally.

Right.

So.

Well, and interesting, I'm thinking about it.

I mean, again, I haven't seen Christine,

so I can't speak to it too much.

That said, it's making me think

of how it's an interesting take on the whole like serial

killer trope Christine in some ways, a serial killer

in that movie, right?

The fact that it's hunting down people.

And as opposed to it being a human character in that movie,

the way Stephen King positions the car,

it takes that place of that villain, as we've seen

in so many other movies where it's a human.

So that just brings to mind, OK, how

that the car takes the place of that.

And it's very much anthropomorphized.

Well, that's what am I trying to say?

That's how when animals are given human qualities.

Maybe that also applies to cars.

I'm not sure.

But it's where Christine is given human-like qualities.

Yeah. Yeah. And I like that.

So I did have one more car that is like that's a character.

I feel like not. Oh, I'm ready.

OK. It is the Dodge Dart in Tommy Boy.

The Dodge Dart.

Is it a Dodge Dart or is it a Valiant?

Is it a Plymouth Valiant?

I thought it was a Plymouth Valiant, the David Spades

car. Now that's it's not a dart.

Now I think it is a Valiant.

Hold on. I'm going to look it up.

But no, that car is like, yes.

And it's just that one came to mind for me, too.

Oh, it's a satellite.

It's a 67 satellite.

Oh, interesting.

OK. At least we're in the middle part of the way.

No, satellite convertible.

67 Plymouth satellite convertible.

That's what it is. Yeah.

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Oh, my God.

You are so right.

The shenanigans that you do with that.

Oh, my God.

The misfortune that that poor car endures just it just

continues to just get more and more wrecked as the.

Oh, I know from the M&M's like flying down into the vent.

They got a hard candy shell.

What's out of the dash?

And just you hear them just rattling down into the vents.

I love Spade's humor because he's just like, he's like,

well, that'll help the resale.

Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

Just and again, that's I feel like that's another one similar

to a little of sunshine where that car just it just makes the movie.

The fact that it's so far away just continues to just have one

blunder after after another with that car.

Oh, the one where he backs up, filling it up with gas.

Bends the door around or you just like pushes it back.

Spade comes out, opens the door, right?

They just fall on the ground.

He's like, what you do?

It's so funny.

Oh, my gosh.

Yeah. Isn't there a poor car?

And then like the end, they like they hit a deer.

And that's in the back, right?

They put it in the back because we killed the poor little animal.

They just knocked it out that it wakes up.

And then then the next scene is they're like driving.

They get like the top up, like duct taped up and everything.

Just tore it to shreds, getting out.

Yep. The hood flies open on.

Oh, that superstar by Carpenter's because he left the oil can in there.

Just all of those scenes.

No, that's actually that is.

You talk about like a movie with a car and a road trip scene.

It's true.

One of the funniest scenes is when they're because this has happened.

Like how many times has this happened to like you with buddies or on a trip?

Right, right, right.

Someone's driving and they're like, hey, that's a good song.

Like let's listen to that.

And then the next guy is like, no, it's a horrible song.

Like let's listen to this.

And then like a song comes on that's like, like for them,

it was a superstar by the Carpenter's.

You know, yes, yes, yes.

And they're like, well, I don't know if we can listen to this.

And he's just like, well, change it if you want.

He's like, well, hey, I'm fine if you're fine.

And but then they just listen to it.

Then the whole thing is just like tears streaming down their face.

And they're both like, don't you remember?

The hood flies open.

It's just so funny.

It is so funny.

Oh, Tommy boy, though.

No, that satellite, that Plymouth, that's a great example.

Yeah, yes.

The other one I had, the car is a character.

Is there a very similar to Tommy boy?

But it's a little different because you might be able to guess

what movie I'm going to say based on this description is it's

kind of just like a sheepdog with two guys driving across country.

Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Oh, I know exactly.

So for the listener, what movie am I talking about?

Any guesses out there?

Yeah, Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels.

Yeah, Dumb and Dumber.

If you said Dumb and Dumber.

Yes, driving in that.

I can't remember if it was like a Chevy van or like it's so kind of

a stretch like the shape of Mutt Cuts.

Yeah, Mutt Cuts.

I forgot the name even.

Mutt Cuts, yeah.

And they're driving across country in this van.

And just how iconic that vehicle is for like pretty much the

entirety of the movie until they get the scooter to Aspinon.

But like that, that whole like driving around and they get pulled

over by the cop and he's got the guy in the front seat.

He's like, you want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?

Yeah, I was about to do that scene.

Or like he's like filling up the gas tank.

We have to lift the leg up on the dog to like show up the gas tank,

you know, then the gas overflow rates everywhere.

You know, it's like, oh, my gosh, it's just such an iconic such

an iconic vehicle for that movie.

Just the sheepdog van.

Oh, my gosh.

It just adds to the absurdity of that movie that I mean, they're

already just over the top, well, dumb and dumber.

And then they have this just complete ridiculous van they drive.

I mean, come on.

Yeah, there's like a scene with the cops like they're driving

a 1987 sheepdog.

Yeah, that really is is so classic.

Yeah. Oh, yeah, that.

Yeah, that's because, yeah, without without that van and that sheepdog,

like that movie would not have had the same impact.

It wouldn't have just made the movie, the movie makes the movie.

Absolutely, so good.

But now I'm trying to think like I only had a couple true car movie ones.

We could we could conclude with our favorites.

Oh, our absolute favorite car movie ever.

Yeah, correctfully titled cars by our favorite company, Disney Pixar.

Disney Pixar free stuff.

Disney, yeah, life plus cars at gmail.com.

Yeah, no cars.

Yeah, so cars, the movie, the first one, the first animated cars.

When was that 2006?

Is that when that came out? That's right.

Yep. Oh, so good.

Oh, Wilson, Larry, the cable guy, like Bonnie Hunt, like Paul Newman's in the first one.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Chief Martin, he's the low rider.

Yes, that movie.

Again, I think I've mentioned in previous podcasts where I was just so adamant

that I wasn't going to watch it, that cars aren't supposed to talk.

And me and I was just being my usual self.

I saw it, went with friends and just was completely changed my life

to think about, oh, yeah, this, this is a car movie.

Yeah, I think I saw like four or five times in the theater.

Well, yeah, I just I could not get enough of it.

I thought it was just freaking amazing.

I love like the little puns, too, you know, like they've got the guy

that's like because he works for Rusty's, which is like like the hemorrhoid cream for car.

The bumper cream, soothe your wrist.

It's like it's like hemorrhoid cream for cars, right?

Yes, exactly.

And they get that one guy that's like he's the rusty truck

and but is on his license plate, says Fred Fred, like Mario and Dredi.

He's just like, you know, like, oh, hi, Fred, like, going to go.

He's like, Dredi knows my name.

You're going to let me.

Oh, my gosh.

Yeah. I mean, and then, yeah, you've got the car talk, click and clack.

Oh, they are the the Rusty's guys.

I mean, they're in it as well.

I mean, so many iconic voices are in that movie itself.

And I thought, I mean, yeah, they just

I mean, I have a whole book.

Actually, it's right here that my parents gave me like the art of cars,

which is all of the art and the inspiration.

And they put so much research and time into capturing the essence of that film,

both in terms of the characters, building the cars out,

to what they became, and then also the incredible landscapes

and backdrops that they built for this movie.

Yeah, some of the best scenery in an animated movie you've ever seen.

Absolutely.

And I mean, they really the overall theme of that movie

right is like Route 66.

Like that's the overall theme is it's like what it means to drive.

Like that's what the theme was, like what, like when we put the interstates

in and everyone wants to go fast, like that's the whole thing.

Everyone just wants to go fast.

Everyone wants to get there, but taking the time to slow down

and appreciate what you have in life and the time it takes to get there.

And like that's that is the overarching theme.

And it's so true. It's just so true.

It's like even that song that they they had Brad Paisley, right?

That's like find yourself or whatever.

You know, he's like, you know, when you find yourself like in a far off

place or whatever, and, you know, that's when you find yourself, you know,

it's like, yeah, yeah.

Like when you get out of the comfort zone and you slow down.

Yeah, that's when things start to click, right?

That's when you realize where you're meant to be, where you're your true path lies.

Oh, absolutely.

So all the themes of that movie are just it's amazing.

It is amazing, the amount of effort they put into creating that movie.

And just all of the little subtle things in it.

I mean, like you and I joke about all the time, like I love that when

he like lightning, he gets separated right from his Mac.

And he like chases down this truck that he thinks is like his Mac.

And he's just like, hey, like you're not Mac.

And the guy's like, Mac, I ain't no Mac.

I'm a Peter Bell.

Turn on your headlights, you moron, because he's a race car.

And he doesn't have headlights, right?

Race cars don't have headlights.

Yes, that's right.

Just that's subtle humor is so good.

It is. It is. It's so good.

And like, I love that.

Like then he speeds down the road because he thinks it's the way to the highway.

And the sheriff goes to pull him over, but it's his old Dodge Polara or whatever.

Yes, yes.

And he's like backfiring because he hasn't gone that fast in years.

And like he's like, he's shooting at me.

He's shooting at me.

He was like, oh, yeah.

And then, yeah, the chief's like, oh, I'm going to blow a gasket.

He's shut.

Yeah, I mean, I it's so true that that movie captures the essence of driving

for the sheer enjoyment of it and slowing down.

I mean, Sally Porsche captures it so well when later in the movie,

when lightning and her are just going out, where she's like,

do you want to just go take a drive?

And he says and do what?

And he's just like to just drive.

Like, yeah, you know, you know, there's no, there's no right.

It's literally just to take a drive.

That scene, I feel, just captures the essence of driving so well.

They go through this beautiful winding canyon road and amazing scenery

and just the idea of two cars just chasing each other

through these winding roads, amazing vistas that they end up with.

And he really captures just that beautiful place.

And like, oh, you and you you hit the nail in the head.

It is. It's gorgeous.

And it's funny, like, you know, the things I remember about the movie

as we're talking about, like, I really like all the little subtle stuff.

Like at the end of that drive when they're talking, right?

And they're up at like the top of the mountain looking over the the mountain

view and then he's like, well, why did you stay in this small town?

Like, why wouldn't you just go back to LA or the big city?

And she's like, well, I fell in love.

And he's like, ah, Corvette.

And she's like, no, it was the view.

And then like hands to the scenery.

It was like, oh, my gosh, like it's just gorgeous.

And then my favorite part to follow that up is what our theme

of what we're talking about is about like slowing down

and really appreciating the drive and then the scenery is you can

see in that scene, the interstate and even like lightning says,

he's like, well, look, like they're all driving right by there.

They're missing it.

They have no idea what they're missing.

Like the water, the canyons, the views.

He's like, they just they're bypassing all of it.

She's like, yeah, it saved 25 minutes of travel time to cut

through the valley like that.

You know, it's like, yeah, it's it's sad.

It's really sad.

Yeah, the importance of slowing down.

Yeah, I still tear up in that scene when the interstate is

plowed through and then you see this slow decline of the town

and people stop coming and then there's nobody there left.

I'm like, oh, my gosh.

I mean, of course, just they've got James Taylor playing in the

I was just going to say in the background just tear it just

pulls at your heart's phrase.

I'm like, I'm like, it's just like gets me emotional.

Just thinking about it like, oh, man, that movie is part

of the reason why I want to do 66 all of route 66.

Oh, that would be incredible.

Yeah.

Just to see all those little roadside towns that disappeared

because of the interstates that I mean, there was a whole industry,

a whole economy that was built off of.

Well, and it's like, we're still still there.

And you see the ones that have survived and still exist of like

just something frozen in time and it's little curios.

And because again, yeah, like radiator springs just they put

so much thought and care into each one of those little businesses

along what is this tiny little main street in the middle of

nowhere is just beautiful.

Like with the curio's shop and the gas station and then you have

Doc Hudson's, right?

You know, you go get the doctor or shop.

They got a paint shop, fire station, Luigi's tires, Luigi's

Casadilla tires, Tony Shalub.

That's right.

I forget that.

I totally forgot that's Tony Shalub doing.

Oh, my gosh.

It is his, his, his, his, his assistant that does the pit stop

at the pit stop.

Pit stop.

And all the guys mustaches fall right.

He just absolutely shows them off in the pits.

So good.

My favorite, oh my God, you speaking of Luigi's Casadilla

tire, the very end when, when the credits are rolling.

Yes.

And then it's got like the Michael Schumacher Ferrari.

Right.

The boss of Roddy's.

He's like, my, my friend, McQueen, tell me this is the

greatest place to buy some tires.

Like, could you set me my friends up with the best set?

And he's just like, he's like a little Ferrari.

Nice shot.

Oh, it's so funny.

And then he talks to Guido in Italian.

And he just, he falls over.

Oh, it's so good.

Brilliant.

And then we didn't even talk about to Mater.

Oh, Mater is just, I mean, I think he, I think he may be

the VIP of that whole movie.

Yeah.

My name is Matt.

Yeah.

And then he talks to Guido in Italian.

Yeah.

And he just, yeah.

Yeah.

My name is Tom Mater, you know, like Tom Mater without T.

Without the T.

How do you back up so well?

Rear view mirrors.

We'll get you some.

What are we doing?

Tractor tipping.

Wait, who's that?

Oh, last Frank.

Yeah.

So my God, this is the Armistice.

Whatever you do, don't wake up Frank.

Wait, who's Frank?

Yeah.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

Like the end scene where he find his hood, his hood.

Yes.

He's like, look at my hood.

He's like, perfect.

Wow.

I've seen this in 20 years.

Oh my gosh.

And I mean, it's endless.

Really.

I mean, in the whole dynamic between lightning and Doc Hudson

and.

You could drive on dirt learning how to drive again.

So much of that.

Like, oh, do you got to turn right to go left?

Oh my God.

And then when you realize like, oh, that's how you actually

drift through a corner.

That's yes.

Yep.

Dirt is a lot different than pavement.

Oh man.

It's so good.

I remember actually it's funny.

I remember seeing cars and just being all about the Hudson

Hornet.

It was the coolest car I'd seen yet.

And then it was a year later that we went to Carlisle.

And there was a Hudson Hornet on a trailer in like the

swap meet area.

And I remember just looking at him like, it's a real,

it's a real Hudson Hornet.

Like, oh my gosh.

I didn't think these actually existed.

Look at this thing.

Oh yeah.

Beautiful cars.

Oh.

Because it was, yeah, it was just a year after the movie had

come out and I just couldn't believe I was actually

looking at a real Hudson Hornet.

Oh yeah.

Cars.

Oh my gosh.

It is.

That movie is phenomenal.

Like it's just got such a good message about it.

And that's it too.

Yeah.

Beyond it of course being about cars and which we

love here on Life Plus Cars.

It's also just a beautiful story and themes that carry

throughout it that, yeah, that you captured well

there, Brendan.

And just, yeah, the idea of slowing down.

Yeah, slowing down and appreciating what life has

to offer and not being so arrogant.

Right.

And just what's right in front of you.

Just like what's right there.

Yes.

What's important?

Is it fame and money and all that?

Or is it, you know, people around you that you

care about?

That's, yeah.

It is finding that.

Yeah.

Yes.

And then right down to that, he just saves the

king, pushes him across the finish line.

That's the part you talk about tearing up.

That's the part that gets me.

When he pushes the king across, he slams on the

brakes at the very end.

Just be, you know, spoiler alert for the listener.

Right.

Doesn't cross the line.

And then the chick hicks.

Yes.

Crosses it.

And he's like, whoa.

And everyone in the grandstand is like, ah.

Silence.

And then he backs up and then pushes the king,

which is Richard Petty voiced it.

Pushes him across the finish line.

And then Doc Hudson is like, you can just like tell

like the gleam in his eye, so proud, you know, it's

like, yeah.

And then it is, it's true.

Like even at the end, like the messages hit

home when they have the guy that owns.

Dynaco.

Yeah.

And he's like, there's a lot more to racing

than winning.

There's a lot more to it.

You know, it's about the person, right?

Yeah.

He sees that.

You ever, you want to place a Dynaco and

he like lightning as the epiphany.

He's like, no, I'm going to stick with Rusty's

because they gave me my big break.

And it's like, yep.

That's there you go.

I got it.

I got to respect that.

He grew, you know, exponentially in that

time that he was in that small town.

It's just such a good movie.

It's a good movie.

Amazing character arc for lightning.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Well, also like, I got to like the funny

stuff.

Like I love that like the bugs in the

movie are like Volkswagen bugs.

Like, you know, like flying on the lights and

stuff.

And like the stupid stuff too.

Like the minivan that like passes the 18.

Absolutely.

And it's passes.

I'm going.

Yeah.

It's like that once in a while.

Like it's fantastic.

Yeah.

That it's just another great Pixar film where

it's as equally fun and enjoyable for the

kids as it is for the adults watching.

It's so good.

I think that's just something Pixar has done so

well over the years.

And cars only just knocks that out of the

park.

Yeah.

Cars.

Yeah.

It's got something for everyone.

It is.

It's a great movie.

Great movie for kids.

Great movie for adults.

And the messages.

Yeah.

It's great.

Just just amazing.

You talk about a true car movie and cars

obviously delivers.

Yes.

Yeah.

So there you go.

Listeners.

Did.

Did we miss any?

I'm sure we did.

Oh, I'm.

Yeah.

We missed.

I'm sure.

Because I mean, yeah.

I mean, like.

How can you cut me out?

Oh, well, like I talked about earlier,

even if it's not a movie about cars or

revolving around cars, like I'm always

looking for cars and movies where I'm

just like, oh, like I've had a car

like that.

Or like, oh, I can't believe they wrecked

one of those.

Like, no.

No, not that car.

Yeah.

So if you want to send us your

recommendations for movies plus

cars or characters plus cars,

we'd love to hear them.

Yes.

Thank you for joining us for another

fun filled episode of life plus cars.

If you have any

story or anything you'd like

to share with us in regards to cars,

movies, life plus cars,

a story car story doesn't matter.

If it relates to cars, we want to

hear about it here at life plus cars.

That's right.

If you're online at life plus

cars at gmail.com,

check us out on Instagram,

which our handle is Ian

at life plus cars.

So check us out there.

We'll be posting every week, every Tuesday

because we drop new episodes

every week.

So look for us on all the podcast

apps wherever you get your podcasts.

Yes.

Thank you again for listening to us.

As always, enjoy the drive.

And we are curating

stories.

One drive at a time.

That's right.

#17: Movies Plus Cars

About this episode

Pontiac Gto

Jeep Wrangler

Ford Explorer

Subaru Wrx

Dodge Charger

Jeep Commander

Chevrolet Camaro

Volkswagen Jetta

Mercedes-Benz GLS

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BMW E39

Volkswagen Bus

Toyota Tercel

Ford Taurus

Plymouth Fury

Plymouth Valiant

Ford F-150 Lightning

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Hudson Hornet

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