The Wash (R) ★★

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg star as two friends working at a neighborhood car wash who find themselves embroiled in a kidnapping scheme.

Story

Levelheaded Sean (Dr. Dre) and free-spirited Dee Loc (Snoop Dogg) are roommates. After getting fired from Footlocker and waking up to find his car booted, Sean decides to take Dee Loc's suggestion and apply for a job at his workplace, a full-service hand car wash. When the owner, Mr. Washington (George Wallace), hires Sean to manage The Wash, tensions flare between the two roommates. Dee Loc thinks Sean is on a power trip while Sean must deal with Dee Loc's side hustles in the car wash parking lot. But petty bickering turns out to be the least of their worries when local gang-banger Slim (DJ Pooh) kidnaps Mr. Washington for a $50,000 ransom. The plot thickens when disgruntled ex-employee Chris (Eminem) comes back to The Wash looking for revenge.

Acting

Dr. Dre portrays his character Sean fittingly well. In fact, Sean's character is probably the only empathetic one; he's not as power hungry as he is depicted, and comes across as someone who is trying to deal with a crappy situation as best he can. Snoop Dogg is also perfectly cast as Dee Loc, a pot-dealing car washer who's always looking for something for nothing. Though both men have been typecast based on their personalities, it works to the movie's advantage here: the two have great chemistry on screen. Wallace is hilarious as Mr. Washington as is DJ Pooh, the not-too-bright kidnapper. There are a couple of great cameo appearances, including Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong fame) as a weed supplier and Pauly Shore as some guy tied up in the trunk of a car. Also look for appearance by hip-hoppers Ludacris, Kurupt, and Snoop Dogg's Eastsidaz partners Tray Dee and Goldie Loc. But don't expect too much screen time from Eminem; he appears for maybe all of four minutes.

Direction

Writer/director DJ Pooh (Friday) came up with the concept for this homage to the 1976 comedy Car Wash during last year's Up In Smoke rap and hip-hop tour featuring both Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. (Perhaps The Wash is what happens when you write a script through a haze of bong smoke!) The film has some really funny moments, like when Slim calls to give the ransom demands but forgets to block his name from appearing on the caller ID. But the overall pacing is off and the focus is a little, um, fuzzy. Only after Mr. Washington gets kidnapped (about half way through the film) does some sort of story start to develop. Up to that point the movie lacks momentum and a sense of focus. And with a background radio conspicuously announcing new songs by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, it feels a bit like a marketing vehicle for their music. Though The Wash doesn't compare to Friday, it still generates some good laughs and showcases considerable talent.

Bottom Line

The Wash is a bit too unstructured and vague but does provide a few good laughs and a talented cast. However, it might be a better bet on video then on the big screen.