Every girl can identify with Beverly Donofrio. She is young, idealistic and has dreams of a life spent with the perfect man. Except for one small problem: She got pregnant at the age of 15.
Drew Barrymore portrays Donofrio in the movie “Riding in Cars With Boys.” The film is based on the true story of Donofrio, who wrote the memoir in 1990, “Riding in Cars With Boys: Confessions of a Bad Girl Who Makes Good.”
Barrymore beautifully captures the angst of a young mother whose life is turned upside down when she discovers she is pregnant. Her father, affectionately called Pop, played by James Woods, virtually disowns her and forces her to marry her boyfriend, Ray, played by Steve Zahn.
Everything seems to go wrong for the girl who had the best of intentions. She must live in public housing, take care of her son (as well as her husband, who, according to Woods, is a “moron”) and try to get through college so she can “get us out of here.”
The characters are adorably real with their own faults and feelings. Rarely does a movie capture such reality with actors, but Barrymore ceases to be whiny, giggly Drew, and becomes a grown-up, mature woman with the intelligence of a hard life in her eyes.
Her metamorphosis is intriguing because it is so unexpected from Barrymore. We have become used to her spouting lines in such rentals as “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Poison Ivy.” Perhaps she has finally grown up enough to be taken seriously, because she shines as Bev.
Zahn, the idiot husband who will love Bev “like no one else will,” is the classic misunderstood screw-up with a heart of gold. He means well in all that he does, and sweetly tries to take care of his accidental family.
Zahn is an extremely versatile actor and shows his talents well in this movie.
His character works because he keeps you guessing. But you can never doubt his sincere love for Bev and their son, Jason.
Jason, the son who Bev did not want, is precious both as an affectionate child and depressed adult. Adam Garcia plays grown-up Jason, who can’t wait to leave his overprotective mother for the love of his life, Amelia.
Garcia is really nothing more than a pretty face in this cast of actors who put their hearts and souls into their roles. He basically sits patiently for his scenes to be over and delivers his lines like he has something else he’d rather do than this movie.
Bev’s omnipresent partner-in-crime, Fay (Brittany Murphy), is the comic relief in the film with her flighty cuteness. She gets pregnant at the same time as Beverly. After hearing this, Beverly sees a silver lining and, being a 15-year-old girl, says, “We’ll have girls and they’ll be just like us.”
Fay provides a welcome relief from the serious nature of the film without taking away from the story. Her character is the ultimate best friend who is loyal to the end.
Since the movie takes place in the 1960s and spans 20 years, the soundtrack is full of classic music. The most important song is “All I Have to Do is Dream” by The Everly Brothers. Bev and Pop belt out the song at the beginning and end of the film, beating the audience over the head with the theme of the movie.
Despite this drawback,”Riding in Cars With Boys” is a heartwarming, uplifting film.
The story is true and the best part is that it is life-life with all the heartache and happiness rolled into one lovable girl who surmounts all obstacles.
This movie is a riot, but also a tearjerker, so be ready for an emotional roller coaster and bring tissues.