Reel Critics

Angela Lee

Drew Barrymore was great in this movie. The last time I thought she

was great in a movie, she was 5 (or was it 6?) and “ET” was her newest

friend. However, in “Riding in Cars with Boys,” Barrymore showed a range

in her acting that really surprised me.

“Riding in Cars with Boys” is based on a true story of Beverly

D’Onofrio’s life. It unfolds with Beverly at the young age of 11, played

with sass by Mika Boorem, telling her father (James Woods) that she’d

much prefer a bra over a bicycle for Christmas to get the boy she wants.

Fast forward four years and there is Bev, played by Barrymore, smoking,

drinking and crashing parties with her two best friends, Fay (Brittany

Murphy) and Tina (Sara Gilbert). The problems begin when Bev finds out

she is pregnant. Bev knows that the father Ray Hasek, played by Steve

Zahn, is not the guy for her; she has dreams of attending New York

University and becoming a writer while Ray is just a simple guy who lives

day to day.

And so the tale begins as we go for a ride through Bev’s life.

“Riding in Cars with Boys” is a good rainy day movie but there is too

much emotion and drama, only sporadically broken up with humor, for it to

be considered a good “date movie.” It’s too heavy. And while it had a

strong story line dealing with family, friendship and young love, it is

not going to be for everyone.

Penny Marshall directed the film while Jim Brooks produced. This is

their first collaboration since the comedy “Big” from the late ‘80s.

* ANGELA LEE, 31, is an avid moviegoer.