Search - Wild Wheels on DVD

Jack Kerouac meets Jackson Pollack on the American Road!

01/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"They say driving is a privilege, not a right. If you haven't seen this film, driving is neither privilege nor right. Driving is a bore! In "Wild Wheels," Harrod Blank takes the "auto" matic out of automobile for an hour of pure family fun! In this, his second film, filmmaker Blank explores a nation of eccentrics who, like himself, woke up one day driven toward making something new, colorful and personal out of their straight factory cars. At first glance, Blank's 1992 documentary film has a "don't do this at home, kids" kind of feel with Blank getting pulled over by the police for daring to be different behind the wheel. But in no time, Blank has made us forget traffic court and driven us far out across a land of rebel creative souls with cars the likes of which you have never imagined. From the Hippo Car and the Cow-asaki bovine motorcycle to the Wrought Iron VW Bug and the Grass Car, the 46 cars featured in "Wild Wheels" turn the classic icon on its head and make the freeway fun again. I loved this movie! It's the kind of film you can pop in and watch again and again over the years and it never gets old. Now translated into over 36 languages and seen by 45 million people worldwide, "Wild Wheels" is literally changing the way humanity views the automobile. Far from the sometimes frightening proposition of "driving while being different," more and more people are making art cars every year. For many, "Wild Wheels" is where it all began."

This fun film changed my life. Really!

Timothy Klein | Dallas, Texas | 01/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I happened to catch this wonderful film on PBS in the 1990s, and by the time it was over, I knew I would have my own art car someday! I think it just doesn't occur to most people (me included, until I saw the film) that it's possible and permissible to alter the appearance of your car beyond a mere bumper sticker or pair of fuzzy dice. Wild Wheels is not only about the cars themselves, but about the colorful characters who've chosen to elevate their particular cars from commodity to artwork. I still chuckle every time I see the scene in which a car salesman talks about how people choose their cars to reflect their individual personalities -- and meanwhile, the camera pans over a long line of shiny new autos that all look exactly alike. Har! Even if you don't end up making an art car of your own, as I finally did, this film will inspire you to step outside the mundane, and to look at cars and life a little differently. I'm very glad to see that it has finally been published on DVD! The extra footage, director's commentary, etc. is excellent. And there's even a second disk containing the shortened, profanity-free version that I saw on PBS, so it's suitable for showing in school classrooms, etc. The film itself is a real work of art! But if you're a friend or relative of mine, don't bother buying it, because you'll be receiving a copy as a gift on your next birthday..."

Wild Wheels

Harrod Blank | 11/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am the filmmaker so of course I am biased, I think this DVD is great! This DVD has a year of additional work in it, including extra footage, Spanish Subtitles and my director's commentary both in English and Spanish which was really tough to do! There's also two slide shows, one on art cars including ones that do not appear in the film, and a selection of images of the crew when making and exhibiting the film. In addition there are two disks, one being the educational PBS broadcast version of the film and the other the director's cut plus all the extras. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks and ride on! Harrod Blank"

Fantastic! Highly recommended!

chasterus | Oakland, CA | 02/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a must-see for all who appreciate north American folk/naive/outsider art in general or art cars in particular. Director Harrod Blank captures in depth the experience of traveling the Unites States and meeting the artists who, like himself, are strangely driven to decorate their automobiles. This beautifully filmed documentary brings together professional artists and complete outsiders, the shy and reserved and the extroverted and (perhaps even) crazy alike, united by their passion for bizarre, quirky, driveable art and the interest, curiosity and excitement their masterworks inspire while rolling down the interstate or just going grocery shopping."