User reviews

Riding in Cars with Boys is definitely a step into a new direction for actress Drew Barrymore. Drew, in her most difficult role to date, tries and succeeds through the majority of the movie. There are times when she goes a little out of bounds, and becomes outrageous -- but for the most part, she nails the part.

The film tells its story nicely, and has a strange and some-what heartbreaking ending. Steve Zahn is easily the high-point of this film. Zahn's character will be the one you think about the most when this film ends.

Riding in Cars with Boys works on enough levels to make it worth seeing.

Based on the autobiography of the same name by Beverly Donofrio, Penny Marshall Directed 'Riding in Cars with Boys' is A Decent Attempt, that comes in-tact with some charming moments & terrific performances.

'Riding in Cars with Boys' Synopsis: A single mother, with dreams of becoming a writer, has a son at the age of 15 in 1965, and goes through a failed marriage with the drug-addicted father.

'Riding in Cars with Boys' explores Beverly Donofrio's Journey from 1961 to 1986. And I must say, the handling of this autobiography, has been done with care & earnestness. Sure, some moments don't leave any impact, but overall, this film does deliver some very charming moments that stay with you.

Morgan Ward's Adpated Screenplay is good, all though some sequences, especially in the second-hour, lack the fizz. Penny Marshall's Direction is wonderful. Cinematography by Miroslav Ondrícek is picture perfect. Editing is average. Art Design is fine.

Performance-Wise: Drew Barrymore as Beverly Donofrio, is fantastic. This performance has to be among her finest to date. Steve Zahn as the drug-addicted husband, is so natural & believable. James Woods & Lorraine Bracco as Mr & Mrs Donofrio, are fabulous. The Late Brittany Murphy supports very well as Beverly's best friend. Adam Garcia is superb as Beverly's grown up son. Maggie Gyllenhaal appears in a tiny cameo.

On the whole, 'Riding in Cars with Boys' is A Decent Attempt.

15-year-old girl disappoints her family by getting pregnant, but she never gives up her dream of becoming a writer. Uneasy picture spans the years, but never finds an appropriate tone or a convincing sense of nostalgia. It's all laid on so heavily, and the performers have a tough time breaking through the plastic. Drew Barrymore is uneven in the lead, but she has a few triumphant scenes: comically trying to throw herself down the stairs to abort her unwanted baby (which made me laugh), in her kitchen with her girlfriend and learning her pal is moving away because the family wants them separated, being interviewed for a scholarship and asking the trustee, "I'm not going to get this, am I?" Moments like these work well because nothing is being forced; the sentimentality and emotions that come up are directed easily. But too much of the movie is unsubtle, frantic, heavy-handed. And Drew as a 35-year-old with a teenage son, talking with her teeth clinched, is a gambit that simply doesn't work. ** from ****

I admit that I watched this movie for the most frivolous of reasons: I liked Brittany Murphy's performance in the trailer ("My daughta's a tramp!"). I really never cared for Drew Barrymore, before. However, my opinion of her has changed. Drew put in an INCREDIBLE performance in this movie. She really nailed it. In fact, all of the actors gave commendable performances. I was so moved that I was quite uncomfortable for much of the movie. The pain that was portrayed was so real that I almost regretted purchasing what I thought was supposed to be a comedy. I'm glad I got through it - and an hour later I'm still stunned by what I saw. This movie is well worth seeing.

Perhaps the reviewers who hated it don't understand that you can be repulsed by another person's behavior, but you don't have to agree with them. You don't have to accept their morals (or lack thereof) in order to recognize what they are going through. And perhaps in seeing these roles acted out, you will see someone you know who has touched your life. Perhaps you'll even see yourself. I profess to have high moral standards, but I was not offended by this movie. I just felt very sad. I've known people like these characters. I don't feel that they were trying to justify their decisions.

They were just telling a story. I also think that this movie was a kind of therapy for Beverly, who is standing up, triumphantly, shouting, "I went through a lot of crap and I made it!"

Sure the viewer gets beaten up by this movie, but in a respectful way.

This isn't a fairy tale. This is a story about real life. And real life is brutal.

An enjoyable enough movie based on the autobiography of Beverley Donofrio stars Drew Barrymore as Beverley. The movie begins with Beverly just at the point of getting her autobiography published, but having to find her ex-husband Ray (played by Steve Zahn) and get him to sign a release promising no legal action against the publishers, so she sets off with son Jason (Adam Garcia) to find him.

The rest of the movie is largely in the form of flashbacks as we discover the contents of the book. Beverly grows up from a precocious child to a pregnant teenager, unhappy housewife, less than stellar mom and eventually successful writer. We discover that her relationship with her father (James Woods) faltered after she became pregnant because he felt personally ashamed in front of his friends at this scandal, her relationship with her husband (Jason's father) never had a chance because of his drug addiction and general lack of responsibility, and her relationship with her son was strained because, deep down, she really felt that he had prevented her from achieving all the success she had hoped for.

It strikes a delicate balance between being funny and sad, but in the end I found it unsatisfying in spite of good performances all around because nothing ever really seemed to me to get tied up (except perhaps the relationship between Jason and Ray) although in the end there was hope for Beverly and her dad. But, life isn't a movie and things aren't always satisfying.

I enjoyed it. Think it might have been a bit over-rated, but still worth a 6/10.

This is not a blockbuster movie but is a pleasant change from the movies that are showing now. I was impressed by the acting of Drew Barrymore and of Steven Zahn. They were both very good. The actor who played Ms. Barrymore son as a young child and as an older child were also outstanding. Go see it if you want a change of pace.

I know this is a true story but I don't think it's really something you could say would turn out to be a blockbuster or anything like that. It's sad to know that Beverley Donofrio really went through all of that, which proves Drew Barrymore's acting ability. I wasn't convinced of her playing a 35 yr old, playing a teenager and a adult in her 20's is more her thing. Steven Zahn is always a great actor and can pull of good offbeat roles, you really could empathise with him when he had to leave Jason. All the actors playing Jason were adorable, and I have to say Adam Garcia's acting ability is just amazing...Brittany Murphy is just fantastic as Fay, and she also has an amazing singing voice!!

This is definitely video movie material

It's a shame that this movie can't be shown in high schools, as an educational video. It would certainly serve a terrific purpose, of how one small mistake can change the rest of your life forever.

Beverly (Barrymore), at fifteen, falls in love with the quarterback of the football team. She decides one night at a party to show her love to him, by presenting him with a poem, she's written for him. Unfortunately, being as naive as she is, she presents it to him, in front of all of his friends, where she is then made fun of. Feeling sorry for herself, and very hurt, she runs upstairs to the bathroom, in the house where the party is taking place, crying. There, she meets the man she will soon fall for, and give herself to, for the very first time. However, this boy is not the boy she wants to marry, but is forced to, by her parents, because she is now pregnant. At fifteen, and married, she is now faced with a new life, and new responsibilities. The movie circles around this new life, and how she is able to overcome so much, with so very little. Her deadbeat husband, small and poor home, young child to raise, and at time hopeless future, all gang up on her, while she tries to overcome all of it. Her dreams are not unrealistic, but rather unreachable because of all the problems and mishaps that happen throughout the next fifteen years of her life.

It's poignant, sweet, funny and honest. There is not one person who will watch this, and not relate to at least one thing from the story. Although it may take place in the 1960s-80s, it's still very true to life, and understandable.

I would recommend it to anyone, and hope that everyone will see the power of a message this film holds. It's really an amazing true story, and there aren't many like this out there.

This movie is supposed to be based on a book by Beverly D'Onofrio. However the screen writer appears to have taken a well-written book and turned it into a movie where we are supposed to feel sorry for a woman who is a teenage mother. The main flaw is that the writer chooses to focus on how awful Beverly's life is, they show her working twice, and never explaining why, if she has this amazing writing ability she doesn't write for a local newspaper. It also never shows us how she got out of subsidized housing. All this movie succeeds in doing is making us feel bad for a woman who made a mistake. In every scene she is sulking and is always blaming others for her problems. She never once in the movie admits that she messed out and ruined her own life. The plot aside the acting is horrendous at best. Drew Barrymore overacts in every scene and the only person who isn't "please slit my throat" painful on screen is Steve Zahn. Everyone else apparently thinks that this movie is Oscar-caliber and is out there to make a name for itself. I watched this movie with minimal expectations and was disappointed. This is easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen and I've seen Friday the 13th 7: Jason takes on Manhatten.

I have seen this movie more times than I can count! Whenever it is on cable, I watch it and I have purchase the CD as well. As an only child of a single mother, I can relate to what Jason felt as a child. As an adult now, I can relate to the challenges that Beverly must have faced. Drew Barrymore is amazing and believable. The actors who played Jason at various points in his life added so much comedy to the movie. Some of my favorite scenes are with Drew and the real-life brothers who portrayed 4 and 7-year old Jason. I admire Drew so much for putting her heart and soul into this movie--a real movie that explores the sometimes complex relationship between children and their mothers.

The movie has a wonderful storyline and is quite entertaining. I found Drew Barrymore to be somewhat miscast, though she does a credible job in the leading role. The drug-addict father, in my opinion, is the strongest actor in the movie.

I recommend going to see this movie.

While not belaboring this entire string of comments, I was glad that a couple of people have already mentioned about getting the truth from the book, as opposed to this movie.

The movie itself is excellent and will keep you glued to your seat. Drew Barrymore did a phenomenal job in her portrayal of Beverly Donofrio, as Beverly is depicted in the film meaning how the storyline was written - and it is definitely a story, but an enjoyable one nevertheless.

I could barely find any similarities however between what took place in the movie and what actually happened to Beverly in real life. Had they produced the movie as the book was written, it would have been a much more intense drama with tons of sex, drugs and rock and roll, literally. Beverly Donofrio as depicted in the movie is nothing short of a Miss Goody Two Shoes compared to how Beverly actually was. But had the producers gone this route, it would have been very depressing to see.

This movie had the potential to be a really bad cheesy movie. However, Marshall's sensitive directions and the cast's exceptional performances have prevented the movie from being just that. This movie is a series of touching moments, and quotable lines that could have sounded really lame if they weren't delivered properly.

Although this is not a perfect movie, it has so much heart that it just makes you drown in emotions. Maybe the flaws are part of the movie's appeal. Go see it :)

Greetings again from the darkness. I am so sick of the storyline based upon, "It's your fault my life is so screwed up". Drew Barrymore stars in one of her least obnoxious roles as an oops mom who veers off course on her way to greatness. Steve Zahn perfectly captures the role of well meaning, do nothing right husband, Ray. Director Penny Marshall seems to be trying to make a point about women, but it is so poorly done, that I say we don't go there. Young Jason, ages 6 and 8, steals every scene with very little dialogue. Best scene in the movie is young Jason trying to wipe the hairspray out his mouth. Every guy has been there. I do wish Hollywood would cease and desist on the "chick flicks". How about good scripts that intelligent people of both sexes could enjoy. No more "poignant moments" where the young adult son learns a valuable lesson from his dead beat, trailer park trash of a dad. Lorraine Bracco is totally wasted as Drew's mom and what is miscast James Woods doing as the moral dad? Check out Brittany Murphy as Drew's best bud. She is the wacko famous for the line, "I'll never tell".

The plot is heavy for anyone with family. Here one can find ladies badly educated by their parents, at least in their behavior with other young guys, and the eternal problem of drugs and alcohol in modern societies. When the ladies are 12-13 years old it is time to tell them about the problems having early sex and without any protection, that's why I said that these ladies were not well educated at home. The film shows well the consequences of sex and becoming pregnant so young for ladies, they normally loose their time behind the babies and sometimes they did not grow up enough to do this work properly. In addition, some boys having these problems find in drugs and alcohol their solutions. The conclusions are of low education and low values in the societies where they live. The problem is clearly shown by the film to young generations although it does not suggest any solution to it. Drew Barrymore acted every well, she must say that she is becoming as good as his grandfather John and uncle Lionel.

I cried all the way through the movie - the drama and plot were well developed and the surface plot was anything but shallow. Barrymore played a different role from her normal persona, but it was definitely a success for her. The movie is told mostly in flashbacks, and is a little confusing at first. As the plot continues things start to fit into place, and you can't stop watching the screen. Murphey definitely stuck out in this movie too. Her personality bubbled off the screen, and she brought what little humor there was to the movie. I wouldn't classify it as a comedy, but it is a movie that I'd want to see again and again. I recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a good drama.

This was the perfect vehicle for Drew Barrymore, who with her looks was able to play a role ranging from a teenager to a mature woman. Her main strength was playing the role of the young struggling mother with great conviction, while her performance as a teenage was a little annoying (a real teenager would have given it more conviction). As the young mother with a late teenage son, she was a little aloof. I'm not sure if that was meant to be her character, but it didn't seem right after giving it plenty of heart and soul in the earlier scenes as the very young mother.

The real stars where the child actors, specially the young Beverly who was hilarious in the bra scene with her father the police office (played to perfection by James Wood). The young Jason was another standout and it saved the film, as did Steve Zahn, who gave a heartfelt performance and supplied the humour.

Penny Marshall seemed to handle the subject well, sometimes just taking a little dip into the Soap Opera territory, but then able to pull back in time, allowing us to to take a ride through Beverly D'Onofrio's interesting passage in life.

To give you an idea of how bad "Riding in Cars with Boys" truly was I give you this. This is a chick-flick movie where even the chick (i.e. my date) hated it. Needless to say, I was pounding my forehead with solidified concessions, hoping to KO myself until the movie was over. Unfortunately, Nirvana did not await me, and I was forced to see the whole thing. I saw poor Steve Zahn made to look more and more hideous with each scene he was in. Poor guy, this was not his type of movie. The only things that really made me happy was seeing all the bad things happen to Barrymore's character (I applauded when her kid cost her admittance to a university) and when the credits began to roll I teared up at the realization that now I could have my life back and be free of this awful film.

I'm a Chinese staying and traveling in U.S. Four years ago, I lived in Enterprise, Alabama for 7 months, and befriended with many "southerners". I know how a lot of ordinary Americans feel when they struggle in their lives every day -- sad, lost, and almost desperate. This is a country full of freedom and opportunities. But in reality, one bad move in this system usually is enough to ruin a person's life, leaving no way for coming back. Being knocked up in high school, dropping out, drug, drinking, gun, bad credit,lawsuits.... This is the side of U.S not mentioned often enough on TV or movies, and is real. I loved this movie and would like to see it again when I get a chance. 8 out of 10. Also recommend another loosely similar movie from France: "Dream Life of the Angels", with more remarkable performances and a more shocking story.

This movie was overall pretty depressing, but the acting of Steve Zahn stood out as he played a heroin-addicted yet loving father and husband. It was really awesome to see Steve's character progress from a young man to an old man, every step of the way so believable and sincere.

There are films made obviously with a female audience in mind which nevertheless are enjoyable for guys as well - take Bridget Jones Diary for example. This is not such a movie - its got girlie night in written all over it.

That doesn't mean its any good though. Its biggest problem is the fact that it doesn't seem to know whether its a comedy or a melodrama, and flits nervously between the genres. Drew Barrymore tries to flex her acting muscle, but sometimes she stretches it a little too far, and her crying / shouting / laughing fits begin to grate quickly. Her part spans 20 years, from the 15 years old pregnant girl with the dissappointed father up to the neurotic 35 year old mother. She's unlikeable in this role at every age.

The worst scenes are the ones between Barrymore and Adam Garcia. Although he plays her son (15 years younger)he's only two years her junior in real life, and frankly it shows to disconcerting effect. Its a good half hour too long, and the only thing really to the films credit is Steve Zahn, who as always steals the show.