Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Mother, Jugs & Speed concerns a rivalry between two ambulance companies and their cutthroat efforts to muscle the other out of business. Allen Garfield's company the F&B Ambulance Corporation seems to be losing out. Then again with some of the help he's got do we wonder why.For those who are used to seeing Bill Cosby as lovable Cliff Huxtable you're in for quite a change. Cosby is almost stepping into Richard Pryor territory as the cynical and flippant Mother, a nickname no doubt abbreviated from something else.No doubt who Jugs is. Raquel Welch plays Garfield's secretary who wants to go out in the field as a paramedic. Garfield being the chauvinist that he is just won't go for it. Later on however Raquel proves her worth and her being a female paramedic helps Garfield in a crisis moment.Speed is a young Harvey Keitel who is a policeman facing pending charges. He needs an income and police training gives him a leg up in the hiring department.Let's just say that Garfield's company cuts a lot of corners, doesn't follow a lot of rules. They've even got a working agreement with an ambulance chasing shyster played by Severn Darden. This man is literally chasing the ambulances for clients. Biggest rule breaker is Cosby. You can't conceive of Cliff Huxtable doing what he does.If your sense of humor tends to black comedy Mother, Jugs & Speed is your kind of film. It could use a remake, I could see this as a Brangelina project myself.

"Mother, Jugs & Speed" is one of the more interesting films of the 1970s that this viewer has seen, and it deserves to be seen by a larger audience. It's mostly a dark comedy (with some moments that are very, very serious) about private ambulance services engaging in cutthroat competition, and the quirky characters that work for the financially strapped F & B Ambulance Company, run by cranky crook Harry Fishbine (Allen Garfield). Bill Cosby plays ace driver "Mother" Tucker, Harvey Keitel is Tony / "Speed", an ex-cop and new employee who'd been accused of selling drugs, and Raquel Welch is the spirited Jennifer a.k.a. "Jugs" who's determined to prove herself capable of being more than a secretary. This is a lot of fun for a while, with some choice lines of dialogue and energetic performances. The Cos walks away with all of his scenes, but he does receive some hilarious competition in the form of Larry Hagman as sleazy, horny employee Murdoch. The guy can't help himself but get together with an attractive patient in the back of an ambulance! Also appearing are people as diverse as L.Q. Jones, Bruce Davison, Dick Butkus, Severn Darden, Bill Henderson, Toni Basil, and an uncredited Tim Reid. Ultimately the movie can't quite maintain the same momentum all the way through, and those sobering dramatic moments may throw some people for a bit of a loop. Still, the premise makes for some great humour, with one example being the instance in which two of the attendants have a hard time transporting a heavyset woman. "Mother" also figures in a priceless running gag where he threatens to mow down nuns who are crossing a street. It's fun to see the lengths to which these companies will go for the sake of reaching patients first and therefore getting the contract for their services. The movie does do a nice job of capturing the nature of the people in the profession and the nature of their business, and is never less than entertaining. It's easy to want to follow the adventures of our main characters, superbly played by The Cos, as the seasoned veteran and wise guy, the ever lovely Welch as the impassioned woman whose efforts to break through barriers is all too believable, and whose education in the harsh reality of life is poignant, and the nicely low key Keitel as the newcomer learning the ropes. They make viewing "Mother, Jugs & Speed" quite the experience; this film definitely comes recommended. Seven out of 10.

It isn't just Raquel Welch's chest that's loaded up with silicone. Peter Yates' putrid Mother, Juggs, and Speed makes you feel as if you've been loaded to the bursting point with those little cylinders of silicate that you'll find in packages of stereo equipment and beef jerky. You feel scratchy, dried-out, and polluted.Yech! Riding in an ambulance has never been anywhere near the top of my list of fun things to do, but after watching MJS, the story of rival ambulance companies battling each other in LA, I'd rather let the hospital come to me.Read the other reviews for the plot. I'm here to tell you this is a stupid and vulgar movie that wastes the talents of Bill Cosby, Harvey Keitel, and about two dozen easily recognizable character actors. Who'd accuse Welch of having talent to waste? Yates tries for topicality and rage-against-the-machine humor and all he gets is the high point of the movie, Raquel trying to settle down some poor shlub who's accidentally gotten his . . . well, you know . . . zipped up into his pants. Imagine the humor of trying to get a male appendage to deflate with 38Ds staring you in the face.Ha! The only thing worth watching or listening to is Cosby's music as he drives across and ruins a golf course to scoop up a heart attack victim.The song is called "Get the Funk Outta My Face." Good advice for this movie!

Interestingly enough I was certified as an EMT in July of 1976. Much of what takes place in the movie was hype with some basis in fact. During this time EMS was in flux. The requirement for EMT certification went into effect in California in July of 1976. Between then and 1986 when I left the business due to injury, tons of things changed. In those years Paramedic Certification became universal, companies merged and merged again, working conditions improved dramatically (my hours were cut in half and my pay doubled). Generally everything in private EMS became much more professional. And women became commonplace. Few industries changed so quickly.I might say that to a lesser degree, the same thing happened during the same time frame with Fire Departments, especially Rural, Volunteer and Reserve Departments.What I like the most is the portrayal of what EMS workers go through, including the risks they take and the emotions the experience.All in all, it's one of my favorite films!