'EXTREMELY USED CARS: THERE IS NO HOPE': Three Stars (Out of Five)

I worked as a production assistant on this film (voluntarily part time) when it filmed here in Corvallis and Albany, OR three summers ago (I also did some minor editing work in post production). My buddy Mark Donnell wrote the film and had been developing the project for many years. Having several years of experience in the used car sales business he based a lot of the film's material on experiences working in the industry and ideas he got from them (probably more so). After rewriting the script several times he finally found funding for the film (from friends in the used car business as well) and started shooting the film in 2008. Craig Richards (an experienced bit actor and indie filmmaker working out of Bend, OR) was brought on to direct the film and known character actor and TV commercial personality Ian Reed Kesler was hired to bring the film some market value. Donnell took the lead in the film and filled the rest of the cast and crew out with mostly friends and local talent from the area. The movie is a dark comedy about desperate used car salesmen resorting to arson and theft to boost business. It works on some levels and fails at others (mostly due to freshman inexperience I think) but it's definitely good for at least some decent laughs.

Donnell plays Chip Douglas, an alcoholic car salesman who constantly drinks on the job as well as steals petty objects from his employers (including toilet paper). Due to the internet giving far too much information to car buyers it's now nearly impossible for used car salesmen to make a profit and Chip and his co-workers suffer greatly because of this. One day Chip concocts a plan of burning a bunch of old customers' cars, after complimenting them through great customer service, which will in turn influence them into replacing their vehicles with him (when the insurance money comes through). He brings his buddy, and co-worker, John Harris (Aaron Kissinger, who also served as an assistant director and second unit director on the film) in on the plan. At the same time another co-worker, Ramone Cordova (Rodolfo Paz), is trying to sell a sci-fi porn screenplay he's been working on and another car lot employee named Justin Rhoads (Kesler) is botching every sale that comes his way due to his chemically imbalanced schizophrenia and 'Hulk' like temper. Chip and John are forced to deal with Rhoads as well as a clever Detective (Dirk Wallace) who's on to them.

The movie has a great premise and a lot of funny ideas but it doesn't always drive home the punch line. Like I said I think that's in large part due to the lack of experience among the filmmakers but you can still tell it was a labor of love for most involved (especially the key players, like Donnell) as well as a great deal of fun (and some of that does translate to the viewer). Some of the jokes definitely do work and some of the performances are impressive as well. I really liked Ian Reed Kesler, I think he's a great enthusiastic character actor. I also found Rodolfo Paz highly amusing and thought Donnell was an effective leading man. One of the problems with the film though is that the main character is too unlikeable . He's funny and charming here and there but he also does a lot of pretty despicable things throughout (and he's the guy were supposed to root for). I think the John Harris character is more sympathetic (as well as pretty funny) and if the movie would have focused a little more on him there could have been a more lovable 'good guy' to care about. Paz's Cordova character is likable as well but it's a little too small of a part. Kesler, who's supposed to be the movie's villain, is likable in places oddly too. He just appears a little crazy but not full of mal intent, which is kind of what we feel about the Chip Douglas character. The movie is still funny though and full of interesting characters (besides the ones I mentioned; there's a pretty memorable side character named Steven Needlebauer, played by Damon Buckley, as well as others). Some of the jokes and pacing don't quite hit the mark but it's the type of movie you can tell probably sounded a lot better on paper. Knowing a lot of the guys involved with the film (including my good friend Jon Musch who has a great silent cameo in the bar scene) I am a little biased but I do think the movie has a lot going for it despite it's flaws and is definitely worth checking out.

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