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Drew Barrymore, Steve Zahn, Brittany Murphy, Adam Garcia, Lorraine Bracco ... see more see more... , James Woods , Sara Gilbert , Desmond Harrington , David Moscow , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Peter Facinelli , Marisa Ryan , Mika Boorem , Skye McCole Bartusiak , Logan Lerman , Cody Arens , Logan Arens , Celine Marget , Robin Paul

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... read more read more... (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

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62% liked it

93,243 ratings

Critics

49% liked it

109 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 11 min.

Directed by: Penny Marshall

Release Date: October 19, 2001

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DVD Release Date: March 19, 2002

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Riding in Cars with Boys "Ray" proposes to "Beverly" Riding in Cars with Boys Riding in Cars with Boys Scene From "Riding In Cars With Boys" "Bev" getting ready for her big interview Riding in Cars with Boys "Fay Forrester" Riding in Cars with Boys Riding in Cars with Boys
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Flixster Reviews (2,977)

  • romy861
    March 12, 2011
    romy861
    All time favourite of mine that I have not watched in a long time. Rewatching it was just as good - I love the honesty of this true story and the flaws of Bev, played wonderfully by Drew Barrymore. I know a lot of people do not like it, but a lot of people seem to want everyth... read moreing to be nice all the time, especially in movies, and people aren't like that in real life.
    The story is set over about thirty years, starting in the 60's when Bev is a child and going through to the 80's when she is in her 30's. During this time, we see that she was a precocious child with a talent for writing who finds herself pregnant in her teens and married to the father of her son, who is not a guy she probably would have found herself with under normal circumstances. Bev's dreams of going to uni are crushed and her relationship with her father strained as she tries to make a go of her life. Needless to say, she is not the best mum and the issues of resentment towards her child are dealt with very honestly and well. It makes her unlikeable to a lot of people, to me it shows she is human. I don't think you ever seriously doubt that she loved her child, even when she doubts it herself, but certainly there are times that she hasn't liked him, and honestly, I think most people would have felt the same, such as the situation where her son blows her interview for her. Though you do feel sorry for her son, after all none of it is his fault, he is only a child and it seems he has way too much responsibility way before his time, you also feel sorry for Bev as you see yet another dream die for her. (Well, I did anyhow). After all, she was practically a child herself when she became pregnant.
    The cast are all excellent here. It was sad to watch Brittany Murphy in this as Fay, Bev's best friend, who also finds herself pregnant and married off at a young age (yet somehow she comes out of it better than Bev does). Brittany was such a good actress and is perfect here. Steve Zahn also excellent as Bev's husband, Ray, who ends up a junkie. Nice small role by Sara Gilbert as one of her school friends and Adam Garcia also cast well as Bev's adult son.
    This movie does somehow manage to have a nice ending. I know a few people consider it corny, but I liked it. I liked that things did pick up a little for Bev in the end, and that her son, Jason, found happiness (with a very young Maggie Gyllenhaal. I did not even remember her being in this, which shows how long ago I watched it!), and was able to feel less responsible for his mother. I have not read the book it is based on, so I am not sure how true this is to that, but a really inspiring true story.
  • FrizzDrop
    December 9, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    A very good representation of the not so wedded bliss many mothers went through in low income housing and troublesome husband during the days of teen pregnancies. Nowadays we have an entire cavalcade of shows dedicated to this subject, and so it is very hard to take this story an... read mored its subject seriously without being partial. Barrymore, with a bit of class and humor, makes the movie and all its eccentricities not only barely, but great to watch. It's amazing how enjoyable this movie truly was.
  • thmtsang
    November 3, 2010
    thmtsang
    Drew and Britney are two teenagers who get pregnant and married. The rest of their friends go to college. Drew always wanted to go to college and be a writer. Her husband is a drug addict and she asks him to leave her and their son. She recents her son and they have a strained re... read morelationship. Good cast. Based on true story.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 12, 2010
    YosemiteSamFan
    Here's another great Drew Barrymore movie, about a mother trying to raise her son normal despite social, domestic and economic odds. Amidst the difficulties, Beverly (Drew Barrymore) keeps a good spirit and not let herself be totally crushed. It feels real enough, and manages to ... read moreentertain and keep a positive light during the awkward events, thanks to a well-written script, Penny Marshall's fun direction, and the great dialogue and performances. I enjoyed watching it.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    January 7, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    I can't remember much about this film. I remember kinda liking it, but not overly in love.
  • matertenebraum
    December 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    Penny Marshall delivers yet another great drama, this time with the help of Drew Barrymore. The movie is about prenthood, how easy it is to mess it up, and how easy it is to grow up to become your parents. It's an excellent movie in most ways, but primarily it has a good story an... read mored some really good acting.

    You'll laugh, and you probably will cry, and you might even call your mother. :)

    If you have a chance, go through the movie a second time with Drew Barrymores excellent DVD commentary.
  • SirPant
    September 28, 2009
    SirPant
    This is a pretty good film, not the usual chick flick I was expecting. It?s one of Drew Barrymore?s best performances!
  • SilentWarProductions2009
    September 27, 2007
    SilentWarProductions2009
    Directed by: Penny Marshall.
    Starring: Drew Barrymore, Steve Zahn, Adam Garcia, Brittany Murphy, James Woods.

    An odd, but sweet, hilarious and witty film about a woman with a dream to be a writer, but gets pregnant at the age of 15 and struggles throu... read moregh life for years to come (I will not ruin it for people who have not seen it).

    But with positives about this film comes the negatives....the film is definitely flawed. It appears that the book this is based on (which is the book written by the character in the film) has been cut down immensely and it shows in scenes that just don't flow and you just have to think that little bit more to stay up with it all, so it does jump around a bit. Also another problem is the pace of the film, at 130 minutes, it feels way to long (can't imagine them adding anymore cut scenes) and I think the main reason with pace in any film is the director. But Drew Barrymore does give a multi dimensional performance, going through 3 stages of life covered in the film and I will also give credit to Steve Zahn as well for a strong performance.

    The makeup is also very impressive, making each section in their lives look realistic (Beverley and Ray at ages 15, 22 and in their 30's) and the ending stays strong and adds to the message of the film. Well done.
  • gatorgirl13
    June 2, 2007
    gatorgirl13
    Great movie. Its sad but Drew Barrymore is great.
  • deano
    April 14, 2007
    deano
    Unbelievable this true story of Beverly Donofrio's life is full of funny story than drama that I really like it.

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Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer
January 22, 2002
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. Full Review

Peter Travers
October 29, 2001
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
October 24, 2001
Rex Reed, New York Observer

A film with honesty, sincerity and a great big heart. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 19, 2001
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

There's a sort of Hallmark tyranny at work.

Rita Kempley
October 19, 2001
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.

Peter Howell
October 19, 2001
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Despite being scrubbed almost spotless, the story still makes its mark. Full Review

David Edelstein
October 19, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate

The way that the screenwriter, Morgan Upton Ward, has shaped the material, Donofrio seems a bystander in her own life, a passive (if seething and resentful) victim of forces beyond her control. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
October 19, 2001
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Neither Barrymore, who's never played a role this ambitious before, nor director Penny Marshall, who peppers the movie with sight gags and sitcom broadness, ever comes to terms with Beverly. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
October 19, 2001
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Every scene is coated with Marshall's thumbprints, ultimately connecting into a manhandled, mangled, misshapen whole, its themes written out in thunderously obvious cues. Full Review

Joe Baltake
October 19, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

There's the core of a good, tough movie lost under Marshall's self-indulgence. Full Review

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Riding in Cars with Boys Trivia

  • What movie was James Woods, Steven Zahn and Lorraine Bracco all in?  Answer »
  • In which movie does Drew Barrymore yell: "He peed in my mouth!"  Answer »
  • in what movie does Drew Barrymore have a son at the age of 15?  Answer »
  • In which film did Drew Barrymore get pregnant at a young age and blame her son for ruining her life?  Answer »
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