Imagine being sixteen years old and knowing exactly what you want to do with your life, in this case attend college and become a writer, and in one moment have those dreams taken away. Thats what happened to Beverly D'Onofrio. In her thirties she wrote a book chronicling her life and the choices she made, which she titled "Riding in Cars with Boys", which is also the name of the film adaption.
At the age of 16 Bev (Barrymore) was a smart, poetic girl who wanted a relationship. After being humiliated at a party (she wrote a love poem to a handsome football star, the poem was then read in front of a large group of mocking boys), she meets Ray (Zahn) an older but incredibly messed up boy. He protects her honor by slugging the football player, and then escapes with Bev and their friends where they find they have a lot in common and are attracted to each other. Bev's father (James Woods) forbids her from seeing Ray, although she still does. She eventually finds out she's pregnant and Ray proposes: "Please marry me, Bev. Because I'm shit without you", and she responds with "Oh how romantic...a marriage proposal that contains the word shit". They marry and move into a house of their own. With the help of Bev's mom (Lorraine Bracco), they manage to survive together until the baby is born: his name is Jason. Bev's best friend Fay (Murphy) also finds herself pregant (she has a daughter) and they begin motherhood together. Bev unconsciously (and at times consciously) blames Jason for her losses in life: being married to Ray, not going to college, living in squalor, etc. These scenes are flashbacks as Jason (Garcia) drives Bev to get her book published. It is their journey to reconcilation.
The film has a lot of heart, the acting is well done and you understand the positions of all the characters (or atleast Bev and Jason). It's funny, honest, and heartwarming.
Watch it while doing homework: some scenes are spell-binding, but at other times you only need to half pay attention (the outcome is pretty predictable)
Rent it once: it's worth it once...although a second viewing may also help
Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) 132 minutes
Director: Penny Marshall
Starring: Drew Barrymore as Bev
Steve Zahn as Ray
Brittany Murphy as Fay
Adam Garcia as Jason
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