Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)
-
49% of critics liked it
(109 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(93,243 ratings)
Penny Marshall directed this serio-comic story, based on the memoir by Beverly Donofrio, about a young woman who finds her life radically altered by an event from her teen years. Born in 1950, Beverly (Drew Barrymore) grew up bright and ambitious in a working-class neighborhood in Connecticut; her… More Penny Marshall directed this serio-comic story, based on the memoir by Beverly Donofrio, about a young woman who finds her life radically altered by an event from her teen years. Born in 1950, Beverly (Drew Barrymore) grew up bright and ambitious in a working-class neighborhood in Connecticut; her father (James Woods) was a tough but good-hearted cop with an understanding ear for his daughter's problems, and her mother (Lorraine Bracco) was a nervous woman eager to imagine the worst. From an early age, Beverly displays a keen intelligence and an interest in literature, and she dreams of going to college in New York and becoming a writer. However, she also develops a precocious interest in boys, and at 15 finds herself madly in love with a boy from her high school. However, an attempt to get his attention leads to an embarassing incident at a party, and Ray Hasek (Steve Zahn), a sweet but thick-headed 18-year-old, steps forward to defend her. Beverly and Ray end up making out, and after one thing leads to another, Beverly discovers she's pregnant. Telling Ray is only marginally less difficult than informing her parents, and at 16, Beverly is a wife and mother. Against the odds, Beverly is determined to still finish high school and go on to college, but that goal becomes more difficult with time, especially after Beverly's marriage begins to fall apart; while Ray tries to do the right thing, he has trouble holding a job, and circumstances become all the more difficult when Beverly learns her husband is addicted to heroin. Riding in Cars With Boys also stars Brittany Murphy as Beverly's best friend Fay; Beverly's son Jason is played, at various points in his life, by Adam Garcia (age 20), Logan Lerman (age eight), Cody Arens (age six), and Logan Arens (age three). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Penny Marshall
- Written By
- Morgan Ward
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Oct 19, 2001 Wide
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
-
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
Beverly is supposed to be a bad girl running with the wrong crowd, but most of the time she seems to be right out of a serioso episode of Laverne & Shirley.
-
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The rough edges of Donofrio's life are either ignored or smoothed away, replaced by broad laughs and easy sentiment.
-
Rex Reed, New York Observer
A film with honesty, sincerity and a great big heart.
-
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
There's a sort of Hallmark tyranny at work.
-
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The movie may be based on Beverly Donofrio's memoir of the '60s, but it misses the honesty and grit of the source.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Drew Barrymore
as Beverly Donofrio
-
Steve Zahn
as Ray Hasek
-
Brittany Murphy
as Fay Forrester
-
Adam Garcia
as Jason Donofrio
-
Lorraine Bracco
as Mrs. Donofrio
-
James Woods
as Mr. Donofrio
-
Sara Gilbert
as Tina
-
Desmond Harrington
as Bobby
-
David Moscow
as Lizard
-
Maggie Gyllenhaal
as Amelia
-
Peter Facinelli
as Tommy Butcher
-
Marisa Ryan
as Janet Donofrio
-
Mika Boorem
as Beverly (Age 11)
-
Skye McCole Bartusiak
as Amelia (Age 8)
-
Logan Lerman
as Jason (Age 8)
-
Cody Arens
as Jason (Age 6)
-
Logan Arens
as Jason (Age 3)
-
Celine Marget
as Janet (Age 8)
-
Robin Paul
as Student







