Driving Lessons
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Rupert Grint, Julie Walters, Laura Linney, Nicholas Farrell, Tamsin Egerton-Dick
Director: Jeremy Brock
WorkNameSort: Driving Lessons
Our Rating: 1.50
Depressingly symptomatic of the kind of film that constitutes ‘art house cinemaâ?� these days, the U.K. import Driving Lessons is a piece of torturous schmaltz whose greatest compliment is that its edge is slightly rougher than that of Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, another insipid ‘charmerâ?� about an age-defying friendship. Ben (Rupert Grint of Harry Potter fame) is a socially awkward 17-year-old ruled by the hand of God, delivered not from his whipped preacher father but from his oppressive, overprotective mother (Laura Linney). A part-time job working for an elderly, out-of-work actress (Julie Walters) turns into full-time companionship, forming a bond that enriches both of their lives. Walters’ Evie is supposed to be a zany free spirit, but she’s simply an unlikable, histrionic shrew. Despite the cool points earned by the Sufjan Stevens songs in the soundtrack, the film’s condescending contrivances are contemptible.
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2006.