Rating: 
Summary: Coulda Been a Contenda
Review: Once upon a time there was a rebellious, bright, funny, teenager named Beverly Donofrio. She was trapped in a working class Catholic family in a suburban neighborhood in the 1960s, and the only way she could - in her befuddled and wrong-headed teenage way - figure out how to escape was to do what many other teens with underdeveloped judgment have done and will continue to do to get out - she got pregnant at 17, got married to a loser, and was divorced by 19. She spent eight years on welfare, yet managed to raise her son, go to an elite eastern college, get a masters degree from Columbia, and become a successful writer. She wrote a memoir that I consider a minor classic called "Riding in Cars with Boys" which signaled an important cultural shift in attitudes toward women, because it was the story of a "bad" girl who wasn't ashamed of it. If this movie, which bears the title of that memoir, had retold the story told in that book, it could have been a great movie. Instead, what we get is a high concept TV movie of the week type story about "babies having babies" in which a 15 year old girl gets pregnant, marries the father who she's too dumb even to realize is a drug addict, stays married to him a number of years, develops a dysfunctional relationship with her son whom she is barely able to love, and ends up up being taken care of emotionally by her preppy, shallow ultimately emotionally confused son. From everything I've seen in video interviews with Beverly Donofrio and her son, and from the book, and other articles I've read, this just isn't remotely her story or her character. I've read a lot of reviews that focus on how great Drew Barrymore was aging from15 to 35, and what a challenging role this was. Well, I thought she did OK with the mess of a script and the character, but the script and character make no sense. Why did she have to be 15? In real life Beverly was pregnant at 17. The real story is that Beverly (who by all acccounts from life was a loving if unconventional mother) managed, son in tow, to go to college and graduate school (not study for her GED - Beverly finished high school with her class) all the while on welfare (not working double shifts at the diner). Why not tell that story - which is far more interesting than this silly moralistic tale - of the trials and failures of a teenage mother? And if you remove the distracting framing device of having her confront her husband at 35, then you could have a role where the actress ages from 17 to 27, a lot less difficult to do. There is one superb performance in this movie, and that is Steve Zahn as the junkie husband and father. But Drew Barrymore as Beverly Donofrio just seems to lack the edge, the funny, rebellious, in your face presence that Beverly Donofrio has. I grew up with lots of bad girls just like her in an Italian neighborhood in the suburbs of a big city in the fifties and sixties. Those girls had some real sass. This girl portayed by Drew Barrymore just doesn't have that. In fact, she seems too much like a "nice" girl and doesn't fit the situation. If you can set aside what this movie should have been and could have been and take it on its own terms, it is well made - the production values are good, the period evocations are effective, the settings are interesting, the use of cars as a character is well-done. It's at least watchable on that level, and I also enjoyed the contribution by Lorraine Bracco as well as that of Steve Zahn (James Woods just gives me the creeps and I can't forget it in whatever role he's in). I'm disappointed though that it's not a movie telling the story in the book.
Rating: 
Summary: I really wanted to love this movie...
Review: but it's just too sad! From Bev's father treating her like a disgrace after she became pregnant at 15 (and reinforcing the notion that by becoming pregnant she had ruined her life), and her agreeing to marry a guy who's pretty much content to be nothing to try to make her father happy, to everyone ignoring her at her own wedding, to her son's brutal childhood, to her realization after her son is grown and gone that she has literally "dreamed her life away", it's just TOO sad! I know these things and worse happen everyday but I don't want to pay money to sit and watch it for two hours. Lorraine Bracco turned in just about the most forgettable performance I've ever seen from her. The only cool part is where her best friend Faye, disgusted by the fact that everyone was ignoring Bev at her own wedding, got up and talked about how beautiful she looked and how she hoped things would work out for her (then unfortunately she turned the spotlight on herself by announcing that she too was pregnant). Pass this one by!
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT FILM!!!
Review: Riding in cars with boys was not a comedy as I expected, it is a well done drama that handles with serious situations! The beginnng of the movie was some-what a comedy but then it got serious! it handles about a 15 year old girl (Drew Barrymore) who gets pregnant and then gets married... but her dream was to go to school and get her masters but with the baby and her junkie husband (steve zahn) it is impossible! This film was very well done and was better than i thought! I've seen Steve Zahn in a lot of film and they were mostly comedy but in this film he did an outstanding job playing that role and Drew Barrymore also pushed herself to the limits making this movie!! the only thing i have to say is TWO THUMBS UP... OUTSTANDING!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: When does Freddie Krueger show up?
Review: A nightmarish sludge ride that spirals without mercy. I hated Drew Barrymore in this film (that means she did a good job). The little boy would have been much better off being raised by his junkie dad. The direction is great, the picture is a perfect digital transfer, it's just the story itself. I can only imagine s/m types or Oprah fans enjoying this kind of vicious tearjerking. There is not one likeable character in this film, it's hard to care what happens to this loser family. We are forced to sit through nightmare tragedy after nightmare tragedy. It's like the Jerry Springer show. In the end Drew is a bitter mess that is totally diluted and sad, the kid is in need of therapy, and the dad is... well, pretty much the same as he was in the beginning, a dope. I just can not say anything nice about this film. The only silver lining is that it makes films like HAPPINESS, WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, heck, even ERASERHEAD look like feel good John Hughes films.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming and Heartwarming
Review: I waited forever for this movie to be released to DVD. It was more than worth the wait. Penny Marshall has done it again, directing a film that struck all the right cords in me...much like the movie "Where the Heart Is" ( A masterpiece itself-not to be missed). Drew Barrymore plays Beverly, a fifteen year old who spoils her father's (James Wood) life plan to have a perfect family by getting knocked up at the age of 15. While her family ponders what to "do" with her, Beverly has a plan already in formation(She IS a talented and smart girl after all). She will get a job, finish high school, and go to college. Her parents don't want a family crisis or controversy, so they convince her to marry the father of her child instead(Steve Zahn), who is a washed-up drip of a loser, yet a willing father and husband. Bev agrees, not wanting to cause her family any more grief. While this movie is meant to be dramatic, it offers some outright laughs during very intense scenes. At Beverly's wedding (she wears pink) her best friend Fran (The VERY talented Brittany Murphy from "Girl Interupted" and "Don't Say a Word") announces to the wedding crowd that she is also pregnant. Could Bev's father have a worse nightmare? Fran and Bev buddy up, sticking together through life's "What have I done?" moments...missing out on the prom, watching their friends go off to college, having babies together, and doing anything they can to make money and leave their small town. They quickly realize their dreams of each giving birth to two girls( which they hope will grow up and be just like them), two pretty houses, and being best friends forever is not quite reality when there is no money, wandering husbands, and your water breaks. "How gross Mom!" Bev shouts as real life intervenes. -real life- Take 1. Drew plays a magnificent roll as a young mother who's character spans 20 years from the birth of her son. She is a convincing actress at every age. While she may be a self-admitted irresponsible parent and make terrible life choices through the years, she is a good mother..despite the fact that she blames everyone, including her son for her misfortunes. I was particularly moved by the ending to this movie. The "ride" getting there is just as poignant as you follow Bev's life from a young girl to a mature woman striving to be a great writer and publish her personal memoirs titled appropriately "Riding in Cars With Boys". A perfect title for a woman who had life changing experiences everytime she did ride in a car with the men in her life. I highly recommend this film to all. I will go as far and say that it is also a must-own for anyone that appreciates a 'see-it-more-than-once' flick.
Rating:
Summary: Riding in Cars with Boys
Review: I am a huge Drew fan but even my admiration for her could not save this movie. This movie is horendous. The main character Bev is a horrible mother! I think Jason would have been better w/ his junkie father. I can't believe this is based on a memoir; that someone would write such an unflattering depiction of themselves.
Rating:
Summary: truly great
Review: should have benn nominated for oscars. ok so im a guy who enjoyed this supposed chick flick. i rented this cause drew was in it and she graces the screen in every movie. boy was i surprised but i liked steve zahns charector more. he made a step up from saving silverman and became better. it starts off with bev telling her best friend faith how to kiss and then asking her father for a bra. its a good realistic true story and a big step up from the other sister. i dont know if penny or garry directed it but it was one of them. the end was great.
Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Better
Review: This movie could have been better. I read the book before seeing the movie and I was sooo disappointed. I thought the book was realistic and fantastic. I thought it was great that someone would share their life like that considering things weren't the greatest. However, the movie was NOTHING like the book. If you've read the book I don't recommend seeing the movie but if you haven't read the book yet, watch the movie then read the book to see the real story.
Rating:
Summary: Drewliistimo -prono-droolee-eesteemo
Review: Drew Barrymore is a fabulous actress and this is a fine example of an actress that has truly grown. My dad told me once in 1984 that the reason she was on top was because she was one of those people that they were grooming for stardom someday. This has proved to be true in Drews case, she really has honed her acting talent, pound for pound I'd say our finest actor. She has grown up in Holly wood, and only the late Marilyn Monroe, has graced as many magazine covers as drewli, she is truly the friend of the American public, a hero to us out here who sacrifice food and clothing for acting lessons, My dad once said, look at Drew!-now those people are truly actors-Bravo Dewli, you are truly the new Marilyn Monroe!
Rating:
Summary: Book is much different!
Review: This movie is wonderful, but boy is the book different! i am glad i read the book after the movie because i don't think i would have liked the film as much. both are great, and if you have seen the movie, i highly recommend reading the book! Drew is great and this movie is definitely a tear-jerking dramedy.
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