Rating: 
Summary: Cars & dream song quite symbolic
Review: Bev's life has come full circle in 'a car'. This is where a brilliant girl committed a 'not-so'brilliant' act during her teens & also where a 'finally matured (hopefully)' woman finds forgiveness & reconciles with her ever-loved father. Bev & her father's theme song "Dream" also plays quite a symbolic part in her life. The whole story is about her struggle to reach a dream...a dream far stalled due to a 'car incident' & a dream she can finally give form to after travelling with her son & finding peace with her father --- in a car.
Rating: 
Summary: Splendid Drew (No Doubt about it!!) with a Weak Storytelling
Review: I love Drew Barrymore, and this movie is good. That should be the end of this review. Or should have been. I've been watching anything she is in, from "Altered States" to that dismally bad "Freddy Got Fingered," and now this film came to Osaka yesterday. Of course I went to the first show in the morning.The film turned out ... not so good. This means, let me hurriedly say, that Drew Barrymore, who played the main character, Beverley Donofrio, the writer of best-selling memoir of her life in turmoil, is so good; lovely bad-girl Drew, warmed my heart, with her sincere portrayal of the heroine's not-so-easy life-story. She meets her future husband who later proves to be really attractive, but hopelessly irritating loser. Being pregnant at the age of 15, Bev wishes to go to New York University, but instead ends up with raising her child (and a boy when she "planned" to have a girl), in her native town. But I said "not good" because, for all good acting, not least from this loser Steve Zahn, playing her husband with certain kind of charm -- yes, for all these good things, the film has too many faults by heavy-handed directions from Penny Marshall. The light-hearted touch, I think, is the key to the sccuess of this type of film, if you look back at her previous career -- "big" "Awakening" and "league of Their Own" -- but instead, her way of guiding the whole story looks very clumsy; see, for example, too many flashbacks which deprives the film of the emotional involvement on the audience's side. And some of the scenes just don't work, to illustrate, the one in which Bev's best friend Fay (Britterny Murphy, herself never better) sings the Shirelles hit song "Soldier Boy" for her boyfriend going to Vietnam. Don't you think it's too obvious even if you know the song? But the best way to describe my point would be to check out the soundtrack, which includes in one party scene the songs by Sonny and Cher, James Brown, and Gerry and Pacemakers! This incongruous combination surely is not fit for any occasion; though the material itself is good, the way of cooking (or arranging) is misguided. Likewise, very often the film does not know how to tell its precious story, containing too many sketches of relations -- Bev and father, Bev and son, Bev and her best friend fay, and Bev and her husband. I understand each story's value, but if the director had concentrated her narrative on three of them, not four, the result would be different. Again, the actors are all good though Adam Garcia from Australia just does not look like Bev's son, and Rosie Perez should have declined the role she had played many times before. But OK, I stop complaining, because there are lots of good things, too. The costumes and production designs are perfect, capturing the the atomosphere of the 1960s and 70s which is going to fade away now from our memories. And when the director doesn't rely on cloying sentiments, the film delivers what it should with its good story and characters, especially the heart-felt relations between Bev and the people surrounding her. It is certain that the last scene with Drew Barrymore and James Woods as her father together singing Everley Brothers' song is the best part of the film, which alone deserves to be seen. You many hate this term, but this is a real tear-jerker, and a good one at that. And what's wrong with that? No. I say, I love it, but I just felt that the film, like its wordy title, takes a too long ride to reach there.
Rating:
Summary: An inspirational story
Review: This inspirational film is based on an autobiographical book by Beverly Donofrio describing the trials and tribulations of her life growing up in the 1960's and '70's. Donofrio also co-produced the film, so the final product is probably a reasonably close to the events as she hoped to have them conveyed. Though I have not read the book, the reviews and reader comments seem to indicate that this was a sanitized version of her life, leaving out much of the decadence that followed the failure of her marriage. Nonetheless, it is a stirring story about overcoming adversity, self imposed though it was, to triumph and fulfill her dream of getting a college education and becoming a published writer. Penny Marshall directs this film and turns what probably should have been a melodrama into a bittersweet comedy. Marshall is excellent at presenting the human dynamic, and that is evident here. This film is also an outstanding period piece, with meticulous attention to detail regarding period props, costumes and music. This is all the more impressive when one considers that the story spans over 30 years and each period is rendered with near perfect precision. Marshall coaxes a polished performance out of Drew Barrymore, whose roles are normally confined to significantly lighter fare. Barrymore breezes through the childhood scenes and gives a fine performance, but as the character ages, she becomes less effective and playing Adam Garcia's mother (Garcia is actually 2 years older than she is) she is barely credible. Still, this is the most mature performance I've seen from Barrymore and it might be a gateway to more serious dramatic roles. The supporting acting buoys the film and makes Barrymore look that much better. Brittany Murphy's performance as Fay is superlative, at times overshadowing the star with a vivacious and sincere portrayal of Bev's best girlfriend. With each role, I am more impressed with the way Murphy throw's herself into her character and pours emotion into the frame. I actually would have liked to have seen Murphy in the lead role as Bev, her performance was that strong. Steve Zahn also shines as Bev's hapless husband. Zahn gives us an endearing character that is as earnest as he is pathetic. Adam Garcia brings forth a very believable teen Jason, torn between his need to have his own life and a dedication to the mother who torments him. This film has a lot going for it. The story is compelling, the direction steady and the acting is generally well done. Marshall may have introduced a bit too much levity considering the difficult challenges of Donofrio's life, but not to the point of trivializing the film. I rated this film an 8/10. It will have strong appeal to women, especially single mothers.
Rating:
Summary: A Deeper Stretch For Drew Barrymore
Review: An intelligent girl makes a less than intelligent decision that changes her life. When Beverly (Drew Barrymore) gets humiliated by the man of her dreams, she throws herself into the arms of the man who defends her honor. Little does she know that Ray (Steve Zahn) is not exactly the knight in shining armor she was looking for. Now Beverly's pregnant at fifteen and the baby's father is not the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. And what about the rest of her dreams: College? A writing career? We travel along with Beverly through twenty years of growth and changes as she attempts to raise her son AND follow her dreams. I enjoyed this film and its inspiring message. It's almost hard to believe that this is based upon a true story - that of author Beverly Denofrio. Drew Barrymore does a great job with a difficult role and is very convincing as a both a 15-year-old pregnant high school student and a 35-year-old career-oriented mother. No, this isn't all drama, which tends to lend to its authenticity. Life definitely has its quirky moments. There's a particularly funny scene when Beverly talks with her best friend Fay (Brittany Murphy) about how to tell her parents about her pregnancy. This is a great movie with some inspiring performances by Drew Barrymore, Steve Zahn, and Brittany Murphy. Although, some folks might see this as a "chick flick", I thinks it's worth checking out!
Rating: 
Summary: Not True to the Book at all
Review: What a betrayal of the book, which was a story of a teenage mother who beat the odds and got a great education while raisng a good son who liked her. What happened? This movie is filled with so much hate and betrayal, that by the end there is not a single character worth caring about. Besides that it is horribly directed, i felt sorry for the talented actors who were left screaming and shouting in this pitiful story. I don't remember a movie, even movies with war and explosions, that hurt my ears as much as this screamfest. It almost was a horror film.
Rating: 
Summary: THIS IS A ....
Review: GREAT Movie .. its going to stick with you and you're going to love it from the first time .. dont hesitate ADD IT TO YOUR CART .. !!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Work by Barrymore and Zahn
Review: The choices we make, the paths we choose and the way we live with those decisions is what makes up this thing called Life; and there are two ways to go at that point-- face up to what has happened-- what you've done-- and make the most of it, or spend the rest of your life feeling sorry for yourself and bemoaning the fact that "they" were the ones responsible for where you ended up. And in "Riding In Cars With Boys," directed by Penny Marshall, Drew Barrymore plays a young woman who walks that constantly narrowing fence of decision, slips up (as so many of us do!) and spends the rest of her life dealing with it. The burning question: Where will she place the blame; on herself? Or on someone else--anyone-- perhaps even an innocent party, in an attempt to transfer that burden of lost hopes and dreams? Ultimately, it becomes a matter of how you deal with the next decision in the wake of a bad one, which in the final analysis is the most important; because therein lies the true nature of one's character. Fifteen-year-old Beverly (Barrymore) is a smart kid, with aspirations of one day attending NYU and becoming a writer. But it's 1965, she's not exactly the center of popularity and she has a crush on one of the varsity jocks who, of course, doesn't know she's alive. But at a party one night, she musters up the courage to approach him; suffice to say, it does not go well. As fate would have it, however (and, oh, fate will have it's way!), a drop-out named Ray (Steve Zahn) is on hand, sees what's happening and becomes her champion for the night. And it's the night that changes her life forever. As Pink Floyd once said, "One slip, and down the hole we fall--" And the real question becomes, once you're down that hole, what are you going to do about it? From a screenplay by Morgan Upton Ward, adapted from the novel "Riding In Cars With Boys," by Beverly D'Onofrio, Penny Marshall delivers an affecting, and often poignant drama that addresses, not only the choices with which Beverly was faced, but makes a penetrating observation about the generation and era that so affected her decisions, as well. The reaction of her police officer father, Leonard (James Woods), to her dilemma, for example, gives a context to the story that is most telling. And it points up how so often "where" you are and "when" you are makes all the difference in the world, as far as how and why decisions are made, and moreover, how those decisions are perceived by others. Marshall does an excellent job of presenting Beverly's story, lending a subtle, objective perspective to it that is effective and thought provoking. She captures the period extremely well, sets a good pace and knows how to extract the kind of performances from her actors that makes it all work. Additionally, most of the action takes place in the '60s, but is being viewed from 1986, and Marshall makes the transitions between the two time periods flawless. As Beverly, Drew Barrymore gives one of her best performances ever, creating a three dimensional character in which she captures and successfully conveys all the complexities of the individual, as well as the situations in which she finds herself. She presents Beverly as intelligent, as a young woman coping with the consequences of a situation brought about by her own design who accepts the responsibility of her own actions, but who struggles against consciously placing the blame on others-- which is a quite natural tenet of human nature. And the fact that Barrymore does not play her as a victim is a key element in the success of this film; it adds a depth to the character that makes Beverly entirely real and convincing. It's a performance shaded with subtle tone and nuance, and most importantly, Barrymore fine tunes the various emotional levels of her character to a perfect pitch, hitting just the right note in any given situation, and it makes the story credible, and what she does believable. Also rising to the occasion with a terrific, memorable performance is Steve Zahn, as the hapless Ray. This is a character who, even though based on a real person, could have easily fallen into caricature; but Zahn makes him real by getting into his skin and using the little things-- a glance, an expression, a reaction-- that gives Ray that necessary depth to make him convincing. This is a guy you can feel for without necessarily liking; a guy you can admire for his innate humanness, but hate for his very human flaws. It's a performance that is especially effective in the quiet, reflective moments, when you can actually see-- almost feel-- Ray's diminished mental capacity. You can see it in his eyes; that pitiful, hopeless attempt to process information, but failing miserably because it is simply beyond the capacity of the facilities with which he was born. And by establishing that cerebral chasm that exists between Ray and Beverly, it illuminates their basic differences and puts their whole situation-- especially Beverly's-- into succinct perspective. And Zahn's performance is in no small part responsible for bringing that contrast to light, and making it work. Also turning in noteworthy performances are Adam Garcia, as Jason, and Brittany Murphy, as Beverly's best friend, Fay. The additional supporting cast includes Lorraine Bracco (Theresa D'Onofrio), Rosie Perez (Shirley), Peter Facinelli (Tommy), Sara Gilbert (Christina) and Jordan Gelber (Kevin). An insightful film that says much about individual capacity and the tenacity of the human spirit, "Riding In Cars With Boys" is well crafted and delivered entertainment that will be a transporting experience for some, while perhaps providing some guidance and inspiration to others. In the end, it's a thoughtful, heart-felt meditation on life; a gift to all of us through the magic of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: This movie is torture!!
Review: It's horrendously sad and relentlessly cruel!! If she hated her little boy so much, why didn't she just give him up for adoption??? When she was sitting on the toilet at her friend's party endlessly wailing I just wanted to reach up and slap her through the screen! I mean come on, enough cheese is enough!!! I love Drew Barrymore, but it's impossible to like her character in this movie! And her parents were just as bubble-headed as she was!! If you want to watch a movie that's filled with dysfunction from start to finish, this is the one for you!
Rating:
Summary: A welcome surprise.
Review: "Riding in Cars with Boys" (2001) About the only thing that attracted me to see Riding in Cars with Boys was the fact that I had seen every other movie at the theatre and my friends all wanted to see it. While I was expecting another melodramatic and boring "woman-finds-strength" movie, I was actually quite surprised by the quality and emotion involved in this movie. What really "drives" Riding in Cars with Boys, so to speak, is the amazing performance delivered by the cast. As I predicted from the previews, Drew Barrymore gives a brilliant portrayal of a confused and dreamy mother who does everything wrong but gets everything right (yes, that was the tagline). Barrymore proves to us she is maturing as an actress and it is surprising how well Barrymore carries this heavy drama. Steve Zahn, not an actor I know much about, but definitely enjoy watching, gives a heartbreaking and intriguing performance as the confused, stupid but totally in love husband. Zahn's scenes with Barrymore are very existent and believable. James Woods was neat and emotional in a supporting role, and Brittany Murphy is growing on me more every day... P>Morgan Ward's adaptation of Beverly Donofrio's fantastic biography is impressive. Ward keeps the pace up and the shocks come at good timing. This is not a nice little Barrymore movie either, it deals with themes such as drugs, sex, disappointment and adulthood in general. That surprised me highly. Anyway, Ward's script has a deep sadness to its story about a woman to wants to break free but has continuous boundaries she can't cross. The story also incorporates many funny moments, romantic back-stories and interesting and involving plot points to keep the audience enthralled with Donofrio's life. The movie does have some minor problems. I did find it a tad cheesy and sentimental in parts, and some of the scenes are sort of replayed in a different setting. I also felt quite disappointed with the ending, I wanted to see a bit more of the after-life, but these problems don't ruin the movie or anything. They are just small adjustments that could've been made to make the film an 8/10 or possibly even a 9/10. Overall, Riding in Cars with Boys is a fun film to watch with plenty of neat ideas and cool points, but it is also an un-typically hard-hitting film that has many good messages and things about life that people could learn from.<
Rating:
Summary: An overall great film, that is fun and enlightening
Review: This film is sensational. Drew Barrymore is excellent in her portrayal of Beverly Ann Donofrio. Drew really brings her talent out. She was very good at portraying Beverly Donofrio at 16 years old, and 36 years old two opposite extremes in age difference. This is extremely difficult to do especially if you have been that age, yet have not reached the other extreme. Steve Zahn also did a very good job in his role as Raymond Hasek. Brittney Murphy was also very convincing as Faye Forester. The story line is timeless, because it involes something that all humans do on a daily basis, and that is decision making. The decisions that we make change our lifes. This movie illustrates what can happen if poor choices are made. I would encourage any troubled, misguided, or derailed teenager,or person to watch this film.
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