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 A neat emphasis on Mrs Donofrio's life Feb 04, 2010
A very interesting, very genuine film showcasing genuine emotions. I have never been much familiar with the life history of Beverley Donofrio, after having witnessed Drew Barrymore playing the charecter, I couldn't help but believe that its just the real Beverley Donofrio right there on screen. She delivers a very believeble performence, a surprisingly excellent one. Steve Zahn was simply amazing, he indeed steals the show, there are words he easily conveys with just facial expressions alone. The rest cast delivers a reasonable performence. A little gem of a film potryaling real people, life and situations. Definately worth a watch.
 life in generations Jul 12, 2009
The baby at the start of the movie is driving the car...
This movie gives Drew Barrymore acting chops
as she is overweight and pretty much
looks stressed all though the movie, but gives a believable job
of being a young mother with real problems who deals with them
and brings up a pretty normal kid as a result.
Teenagers who have babies don't have to find their life over for one stupid mistake? I liked the movie.
Good movie if you have 2 hours to kill and want something with meaning. Jun 25, 2009
I have had this movie for awhile but never got around to watching it. After reading that there was many big names that I've seen in other things, I thought to myself it's a big cast for such a movie. First off James Woods does an excellent job of playing her father and the sheriff in the small town they live. Brittany Murphy does a decent job of being Barrymore's friend to the end no matter what. I've always thought that she is hot and pleasant to the eye so that scores some points too. The best casting call was to have Steve Zahn be Barrymore's stoner/soon to be junkie husband of her unplanned child. To be honest when ever he is cast in a movie to be a stoner or a drunk he excels at the part being done well and believable. The movie opens in present day but be prepared to go back in Barrymore's character's life in a span of several years. The movie has its comedy parts mixed with its drama parts. That all fine and dandy but my only real problem is that it's trying to be funny with serious topics like underage pregnancy and hardcore drug abuse. Watching this movie is no good if you have a short attention span. For what it takes which is mostly 2 hours of your time and money depending on how you have it. This movie gives you the message of never forgetting your dreams even when your against the odds. Something that many people I know give up on when they hit a small bump in the road. If your looking to kill 2 hours and want watch something with meaning this is your movie.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Big Dreams, Big Hurdles... Jan 01, 2009
Okay, it's that time of year. A time to reread old favorite books and watch those special movies. This one - Riding in Cars with Boys (Special Edition) - is one I saw some time ago. I also read the book. (After seeing the movie).
Most writers can relate to someone who dreams of writing the way the character Beverly D'Onofrio does - it's kind of like breathing...you have to do it or else.
Attaining her dream of a college education and writing that book take Bev (Drew Barrymore) longer than it does for the standard student - she has several obstacles, such as a teenage pregnancy - and in rearing her child alone (eventually), she flounders at times. She is sidetracked by financial concerns as well. But she never takes her eye off the prize.
Steve Zahn plays her husband (soon to be ex), a heroin addict whose drug dependence almost pulls her down with him; Brittany Murphy plays her best friend and one-woman cheering squad.
Coming from an Italian family with traditional values, it is surprising that Bev makes it at all, but, despite the family's initial shock and disappointment, her parents become very supportive. This support helps keep her on track until she finally achieves her goals. She finishes her book and finds a publisher - but not without some last-minute barriers that involve getting her ex-husband's "waiver" before the book can finally come to light.
This is a good movie for New Year's Eve. Or for any time when you want to curl up and enjoy that feel-good kind of flick.
Laurel-Rain Snow
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Short On Humor, Long On Heartbreak Dec 07, 2008
One would think that the way the trailer for "Riding in Cars With Boys" is put together, you'd have a jolly old time watching it. With Drew Barrymore heading the cast and Penny Marshall (A League of Their Own) directing, you've got even more reason to believe that you're in for a lighthearted and delightful feature. For those prepared to rent this flick, plop down on their sofa with their popcorn, treats and soft drinks/beer and laugh it up, be warned - trailers can be VERY deceiving.
By all accounts (and by my opinion only), "Riding in Cars With Boys" has to be the most humorless film I've seen in a while. Sure, you say, "the previews I've seen make it look pretty damn funny"...yet when one starts watching, they will gradually feel less enlightened and more despondent as events unfold. For this movie to be categorized as a comedy is an error of grand proportion; it clearly belongs amongst the ranks of the drama genre, what with its story being based on the heart-wrenching autobiography of novelist Beverly D'Onofrio.
The movie begins with a pre-teen Beverly unabashedly admitting to her policeman father Leonardo (Woods) that she "can't wait to get breasts", her desire to grow up far too tenacious. Flash forward about three or four years to the throes of Beverly's adolescence - she is an aspiring novelist...with boobs. Promptly jilted after soliciting the attentions of an arrogant jock at a rowdy house party, she retreats to an upstairs bathroom to let the tears of humiliation flow, unwittingly stumbling upon her future husband, a dim bulb named Ray Hasek (Zahn). Ray becomes her personal hero when he beats the jock to a pulp and they later end up in a parked car with her best friend Fay (Murphy) and her boyfriend, laughing it up with cigarettes and booze.
You can pretty much guess what happens at this point; with child at the age of 15 and no wedding ring on her finger to speak of, Beverly's father looks her dead in the eye after she confesses to her pregnancy and says gravely, "You've ruined your life."
This is the movie's biggest understatement.
At a loss of what to do, Beverly convinces herself that she is in love with Ray and decides to marry the brainless sperm donor, her wedding the most joyless celebration ever beheld. To make matters worse, Fay confesses during a toast to the newlyweds that she is pregnant as well and the whole event becomes a festival of shame.
The rest of the movie has Beverly trying like hell to make her dream as a novelist come true despite numerous hindrances. It doesn't take long for this vicious cycle to get tiresome - watching Beverly fumble over and over again, try as she might, can make some people feel pretty frustrated (are you starting to get the picture?). The film ends with her finally publishing her autobiography and making amends with her father, but don't mistake this for a happy ending - everything you've seen up to this point will more than convince you that this story is far from having a joyous denouement.
The uplifting aspects are the performances of the movie's four leads (Barrymore, Zahn, Goldberg, Murphy). I haven't been able to take Drew Barrymore seriously for a while regarding dramatic roles; after all, can you blame me for feeling this way when the most recent projects at the time crowding her extensive resume were "Never Been Kissed" and the overblown "Charlie's Angels" action films? Watching her here, however, is a 180° turn - she conjures several emotional outbursts and is exceptional (this word is underlined, by the way). Rarely have I seen such a fantastic outcome from her and this is what made me appreciate the movie most. If you will see it for any reason, see it for Barrymore's finest performance yet.
Ray is incorrigible and Steve Zahn does a flawless job. However, a comedic actor of his skills needs to expand his horizons. Brittany Murphy can't showcase even half of her gusto with the thankless role of Fay (half the time she looks like she's been chopping onions) and Sarah Gilbert is practically non-existent as Christine, her screen time amounting to no more than ten minutes. This is the same girl who outshined everyone as the acerbic Darlene on the long-running TV sitcom "Roseanne" and she's relegated to the background. She should be leading a film, not supporting it.
Brash "New-Yawker" Lorraine Bracco can't sparkle either and James Woods, with what little he's got, manages to make Leonardo a delicate character - he's the only one out of the entire supporting cast to make a distinct impression.
Bottom line: Though I feel personally that it is a mistake to tout this film as a comedy, it is nevertheless an affecting representation of D'Onofrio's struggle to overcome adversity. If you're looking for a film that will give you a good laugh AND a good cry, "Riding In Cars With Boys" is a safe bet.
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