Driving Lessons Review

This review is spoiler-free! 

The Case

I have a confession to make.  I have a crush on Rupert Grint.  For those of you who aren't familiar with the name, Rupert Grint is the actor who plays Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies.  Don't ask me why I have this inexplicable attraction.  Thou shalt not question the inherent charm of Rupert Grint.

So, yeah. I love Grint's performance as Ron, and I was excited for him to stretch his legs in other roles.  When I heard about Driving Lessons, I was geeked (as if I wasn't enough of a geek already).  I rented it on DVD the minute it was available and settled in for the long haul, fully aware that there was every possibility the film might not be that great.  But it wouldn't really matter - didn't I already tell you that Rupert Grint is in it?!

But it was great.  To my absolute delight, Driving Lessons had strong characters, well-written story arcs, zany adventure sequences, fantastically scripted moments of wit, humor, and humanity, and pure perfection when it came to acting performances.  Well of course!  Didn't I already tell you that Rupert Grint is in it?!

The Good

Driving Lessons is not a big-budget film, and thank goodness!  It's all about the characters - the story starts there, explores there, and ends there.  It's not a muck of special effects and action - it's about people.  Three people to be exact, at least mainly - Ben (Rupert Grint), his excessively strict mother (Laura Linney), and Evie (Julie Walters), the erstwhile old actress that hires Ben to help her out around the house.  Every one of these exceptional actors does a terrific job with their onscreen alter egos.  Grint and Walters are a delight to watch and have fantastic chemistry (they've worked together in the Harry Potter films - Walters plays Ron's mother, Mrs. Weasley), while Linney captures that 'love to hate her' feeling perfectly all throughout the story.

The movie is just plain fun.  And it's bloody hilarious to boot!  Sure, it's got serious aspects, but you'll finish it feeling optimistic and happy, a big smile on your face.  The music doesn't hurt on that score either.  All of the music was enjoyable, but I discovered one new favorite in particular - Salsa Celtica.  They blend the distinct sounds of Gaelic and Latin music (sensational!) and two of their numbers punctuate pivotal scenes in the film perfectly.

The Bad

Just to be straight with you, I already know that there are a lot of people out there who didn't really get into this movie.  It's a coming-of-age story, and we've all seen a ton of those.  It's also a little slow at the start, though the pacing does improve exponentially.  I guess if you won't enjoy a sweet, heart-warming little flick about growing up, this might not be for you.  The humor is dry, too, and that can be a factor for some people.  I hope, though, that you'll give it a chance, because to me, Driving Lessons is quirky, charming perfection!

The Verdict

Four and a half stars (rounded to five)! Driving Lessons was a truly delightful ride in every sense of the word!