Main Cast: Mako, Nobu McCarthy, Patti Yasutake, Marian Yue, Sab Shimono
Release Year: 1988
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
Plot
Veteran Hawaii-born actor Mako is never less than brilliant in director Michael Toshiyuki Uno's The Wash. The film is a study of love lost and love renewed in California's Asian community. Since his retirement, a husband (Mako) becomes increasingly sullen and withdrawn. Only when his wife (Nobu McCarthy) announces that she wants a separation does the husband begin to reexamine his life. While the story in The Wash is a familiar one, its ethnic overtones set the film apart from others of its ilk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Michael Toshiyuki Uno - Director, Jay Freund - Editor, Lidsay Law - Executive Producer, John Morris - Composer (Music Score), David Wasco - Production Designer, Walt Lloyd - Cinematographer, Lidsay Law - Producer, Calvin Skaggs - Producer, Agamemnon Andrianos - Sound/Sound Designer
More than just another rap soundtrack, The Wash actually functions more as a Dr. Dre album. The West Coast don not only executive produces the album but also produces a few tracks and even raps on three. And the tracks that don't feature him no doubt reflect his influence -- most of the producers here clearly studied at the Dr. Dre school of beatmaking. It's perhaps not a surprise, then, that The Wash sounds an awful lot like Chronic 2001. Dre and Snoop Dogg anchor the album and perform on the album's best songs, including the title track, which consciously references "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" with not only its lyrics, but also its beats. Furthermore, like Chronic 2001, The Wash features a large cast of performers, most from the West Coast and several relatively unknown, big-name exceptions being D12, Bilal, Xzibit, Busta Rhymes, and Bubba Sparxxx. Of the unknowns, two singers/rappers in particular get the spotlight: Shaunta and Knoc-Turn'al, both signed to Dre's Aftermath label and both making their debuts here. The soundtrack's highlight comes on "Bad Intentions," one of Dre's most club-oriented songs ever. Overall, The Wash could use a few more standout moments. The D12 and Bubba Sparxxx songs are impressive but unfortunately out of place on such a West Coast-centric album. More than anything, though, it's worth giving this album a listen even if only to hear Dre's changing sound -- his trademark production sound is all over this soundtrack. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
Hi-Tek (Bass), Hi-Tek (Keyboards), Hi-Tek (Producer), Dr. Dre (Keyboards), Dr. Dre (Producer), Dr. Dre (Executive Producer), Dr. Dre (Mixing), Tom Sweeney (Engineer), Tom Sweeney (Assistant Engineer), Snoop Dogg (Performer), Dave Aron (Keyboards), Dave Aron (Engineer), Dave Aron (Mixing), Jeff Bass (Bass), Jeff Bass (Guitar), Jeff Bass (Keyboards), Jeff Bass (Producer), Busta Rhymes (Performer), Keith Cohen (Engineer), Brian Gardner (Mastering), Chris Gehringer (Mastering), Diane Gordon (Vocals), Richard Huredia (Engineer), Richard Huredia (Mixing), J-Z (Producer), Steven King (Engineer), DJ Pooh (Producer), James Poyser (Keyboards), James Poyser (Producer), James Poyser (Mixing), Tony Prendatt (Engineer), Tony Prendatt (Mixing), Tom Rounds (Assistant Engineer), Scott Storch (Keyboards), Tweet (Vocals), Adam Williams (Assistant Engineer), Barbara Wilson (Vocals), Priest Brooks (Keyboards), Xzibit (Performer), Claudio Cueni (Engineer), Steve Baughman (Engineer), Steve Baughman (Mixing), Don Harris (Bass), Jimmy Douglas (Mixing), Timbaland (Vocals), Timbaland (Producer), Timbaland (Mixing), Carlos Warlick (Mixing), Mauricio Iragorri (Engineer), Jason Goldstein (Mixing), Jason Clark (Art Direction), Jason Clark (Design), Kirv (Piano), Mike Elizondo (Bass), Mike Elizondo (Guitar), Mike Elizondo (Keyboards), Joe Warlick (Engineer), Joe Warlick (Mixing), Jeff Burns (Assistant Engineer), John Tyree (Assistant Engineer), Soopafly (Producer), Soopafly (Engineer), Drew Thomas (Assistant Engineer), Jason Rome (Producer), Jason Rome (Instrumentation), Larry Chatman (Production Coordination), Larry Chatman (Project Coordinator), Eminem (Producer), Bill Pettaway (Guitar), Camara Kambon (Keyboards), Ted Reiger (Assistant Engineer), Senator Jimmy D (Engineer), Greg Burns (Assistant Engineer), Sean Cruse (Guitar), Kieran Wagner (Engineer), Darrell Thorp (Assistant Engineer), Jellyroll (Producer), Mahogany (Producer), Traci Nelson (Vocals), Lupe Ceballos (Production Coordination), Michael Daks (Performer), Kirdis Tucker (Production Coordination), Focus (Bass), Focus (Keyboards), Focus (Producer), David B. Young (Vocals), Bubba Sparxxx (Vocals), Kathy Merrick (Vocals), Vikter Duplaix (Producer), Vikter Duplaix (Engineer), Vikter Duplaix (Drum Programming), Vikter Duplaix (Mixing), Steve Penny (Engineer), Shaunta (Performer), Denaun Porter (Drum Programming), Bryan-Michael Cox (Producer), Bryan-Michael Cox (Assistant Engineer), Bryan-Michael Cox (Instrumentation), Truth Hurts (Performer), Charile "CSUN" Bereal (Guitar), Damon "Bing" Chatman (Production Coordination), Philip De Marks Jr. (Vocals (Background)), Deana Evans (Vocals), Mamie Gunn (Vocals), Joel C. High (Music Supervisor), Tim Izo (Flute), Jeff Kanan (Assistant Engineer), Megahertz (Producer), Mel Man (Keyboards), Angelo Sanders (Production Coordination), Urban Kris (Assistant Engineer), Andrew Van Meter (Production Coordination), Duke Wagner (Engineer), Pop Wagner (Engineer), Scott Whiting (Assistant Engineer), Sam Thomas (Engineer)
The dialogue is notable for a huge amount of ghetto, pimp, sexual talk, as well as the frequent use and sale of drugs on screen accurately depicting the way things are for an everyday carwash in the middle of Los Angeles, though the film never specifies exactly where in the Los Angeles area it takes place. Presumably, the setting is thought to be South Central or one of the lower/lower-middle class incorporated cities in southern Los Angeles County.
Plot
Sean (Dr. Dre) and Dee Loc (Snoop Dogg) are roommates who have not yet paid their rent. To make matters worse, Sean just lost his job at Foot Locker, so Dee Loc suggests that his roommate stop by the same car wash where he works. Sean is immediately hired as assistant manager since Chris (Eminem) had been fired the day before. At the same time, their landlord has given them a three-day eviction warning. Although Dee Loc has the money, through dealing drugs on the side, he refuses to pay, insisting that Sean needs to come up with his half, so Sean does his best to impress Mr. Washington (George Wallace), the owner of the car wash, so he can hold his job long enough to come up with his half of the rent.
At first, things go fine, but then Dee Loc is caught on tape stealing and Mr. Washington tells Sean he must decide what to do, including firing his roommate if that's the best 'executive decision' to make. Sean tries to appeal to Dee Loc to act more responsibly but this creates a tremendous strain in their relationship.
Then Mr. Washington is kidnapped at gunpoint by two inept and angry local thugs (one of whom is played by DJ Pooh), who are stupid enough to call the car wash with their demands unaware of caller ID, which of course reveals their location, but instead of calling the police, Sean and Dee Loc put aside their differences long enough to rescue their boss, otherwise Sean won't get paid and he won't be able to come up with his half of the rent.
The crisis worsens when the former assistant manager, Chris, suddenly shows up wanting revenge on Mr. Washington for firing him, which sets up the final confrontation between all parties concerned. Chris shoots one of the kidnappers and runs out of bullets, then Sean confronts Chris and they wrestle for the gun. Sean loses the battle and falls down and just when he was about to get shot Dee Loc hops in the way to defend his friend. But when Chris turns around he is confronted with a gun to his face just as the cops arrive. When all this is over Sean and Dee Loc walk off together as the credits roll.
