I saw The Wash in a sneak preview sponsored by a radio station. With the theater overbooked, one of the station’s Djs announced, "We’re going to have to ask those without a seat to leave. You can, however, see another movie in the cinema for free. So go get your Shrek on."

Man, I wish I had gotten my Shrek on. Dr. Dre and Snoop have always kept my head ringing pleasurably, but the music takes a back seat here. Imagine a hip-hop album that is just the lame "skits" that usually go between songs and you’ve got an idea of what The Wash is about. The pot, er, plot is rolling-paper-thin: Dr. Dre plays the uptight Sean (i.e., he doesn’t smoke up all day and wants to hold down his job at the carwash); Snoop, as his roommate, Dee Loc, is high on everything but working hard. The two of them bicker, entertain women, and wash cars until the kidnapping of their boss (George Wallace) sparks them into action. The jokes, when they come, lack the wit of West Coast rap’s best lyrics, and the movie, directed by D.J. Pooh (3 Strikes), actually feels slow. Snoop, though not a bad actor, is plain unlikable here — instead of being a goofy stoner, he’s a mean one. As for Dr. Dre, he should stick to laying down beats. Xzibit, Eminem, Pauly Shore, and Shaq make brief appearances.