License to Drive - Special Edition  (1988)

Rating: R

Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Release Date: May 3, 2005
Review posted: July 5, 2005

Reviewed by Elena Encarnación

SYNOPSIS

"An innocent girl.  A harmless drive.  What could possibly go wrong?"

Everything, Les Anderson is about to find out, in this teen movie from the 80's about a high school kid who won't let failing his driver's license test deter him from taking the girl of his dreams out for a night on the town in his grandfather's Cadillac.  When his big date takes an unexpected turn, Les turns to his buddy, Dean, for help; but even more chaos ensues as they embark on a night that neither of them is likely to forget.

CRITIQUE

In 1988, I was an avid reader of Bop Magazine, due in large part to Corey Haim.  He was always either on the cover, or was featured in an article that discussed such scintillating news as, what his favorite color, food, movie, and of course, romantic date was.  This was of course the era of "The Corey's", a time when the affection of most adolescent girls was devoted either to Corey Haim, or Corey Feldman.  Haim was the sweet, sensitive one.  Feldman was the rebellious smart ass.  Together the duo starred from 1987-89 in three successful films: The Lost Boys, License to Drive, and Dream a Little Dream. 

Although the direction of novice Greg Beeman and the screenplay leave much to be desired, License to Drive is an entertaining teen comedy that delivers laughs thanks to the performances of its actors.  Haim and Feldman were perfectly cast as Les and Dean respectively, and the movie is at its best in the scenes the two share.  Together they have true chemistry and charisma. 

Although his role is void of complexity, Haim is able to adequately convey the vulnerability and awkwardness of sixteen-year-old Les, competing with an older man (a Ferrari driving high school graduate) for the affections of Mercedes (Heather Graham).  Between the dopey way in which his mouth gapes open throughout almost the entire movie, his slanted smile that originates from the corner of his mouth, or his subtle upper lip smirk that gives the pretension of coolness, there is an appealing naturalness about his performance.  His charm in this film is so visible that stuffing passed out Mercedes into the trunk of Grandpa's Cadillac so that he and his buddies can pick up some girls who are actually conscious, doesn't diminish his likeability.

What stands out most about Feldman's performance is his sense of comedic timing and style.  Dean, who dresses for a high school party in a white collared shirt and black tie, and wears sunglasses at night, is Les's sidekick.  He coaxes Les into a night of debauchery that will no doubt result in getting Les grounded for the rest of the 80's.  Feldman delivers most of the punch lines in the movie and does so effectively with an arrogant and yet debonair suaveness.

Unfortunately, the storyline is predictable, contrived and full of clichés.  With his whole social life riding on the result of his DMV exam, there is never any doubt that Les will fail it; and when the night of his big date arrives, and he is still without a license there is not a chance in hell he won't risk castigation at the hands of his father by sneaking out at night in his grandfather's 1973 Cadillac.  Another example of a foreseeable chain of events is when, once out on the date, against his own better judgment, Les parks the classic automobile in a tow-away zone at Mercedes' suggestion.  So, it is not a surprise when the Cadillac is pulled away in a tow truck a few minutes later.  However the sequence that follows with Les trying to apprehend the vehicle is amusing. 

Most teen comedies depict parents as fools; and License to Drive does not exactly stray from this tradition.  Although Mr. And Mrs. Anderson (Richard Masur and Carol Kane) do not come across as complete idiots, they are oblivious, and illogical enough to actually consider purchasing their son a brand new BMW; until that is, they find out he failed to obtain his license.  Any credibility his parents are able to maintain is due in large part to the performances of Masur and Kane.  Masur finds the right blend of anger, tolerance, love and sarcasm to be believable as a suitable father.  Kane, whose character is pregnant and ready to deliver at anytime, is very funny, playing her role with the same uniqueness she brought to her parts in The Princess Bride and the television series Taxi.  Although License to Drive exploits every stereotype of pregnant women, Kane is able to rise above the trite material and give a memorable performance. 

However, in spite of his flawed screenplay, Neil Tolkin did create some good dialogue for his actors to work with.  The banter between Haim and Feldman is perfectly sophomoric, full of angst, libido and enthusiasm.  Both of them have several good lines and speeches.  Particularly memorable is when Dean gives a speech explaining the importance of a driver's license in the life of a red-blooded American young man.  Another pearl is when Les, horrified of the repercussions his long joyride will have on the remainder of his youth remarks, "I'm so dead, they're going to have to bury me twice."

Also notable about this film is the debut of the beautiful and talented actress Heather Graham.  While her beauty may be on display in this film, her talent is not.  As Mercedes, she is little more than a prop, spending much of her time onscreen unconscious.  It is probably the most anticlimactic mark in her otherwise impressive film career.

What makes License to Drive most significant today is the part it plays in pop culture history and the saga of "The Coreys".  Both of their careers peaked with this film, but like many young actors, they did not handle the pressures and perks of fame well.  They both squandered their early promise by succumbing to drug and alcohol addiction, saw their careers plummet to oblivion, and are now a permanent fixture on VH1's Where Are They Now? series.

THE VIDEO

License to Drive is shown in 1.85:1 in anamorphic widescreen.  It is clear and free of flaws.

THE AUDIO

The sound is presented in both Dolby Surround 5.1 and Dolby Surround 2.0, and is good, balanced and clear.

THE EXTRAS

Corey Haim Interview - A recent lackluster interview with Haim, where the most interesting thing we learn is that he had not yet obtained his license at the time he shot License to Drive.

Corey Feldman Interview - Feldman is funny, entertaining and engaging in this interview.

Audio Commentary with Director Greg Beeman and Writer Neil Tolkin - The two provide great commentary that is always amusing and occasionally hilarious, pointing out the directorial and editing flaws, as well as the ridiculous aspects of the storyline.

Deleted Scene - The video is dark and the sound is inconsistent.  However it offers an alternate sequence, which although it is interesting, was wisely changed.

Trailer #1 - Satisfactory.

Trailer #2 - Misleading because it shows shots from the deleted sequence, depicting a chain of events that is absent from the finished film.

TV Shot #1 - Nothing Special.

TV Shot #2 - The same as the first, but this one shows audience comments.

FINAL THOUGHTS

License to Drive is not a great comedy, but it will bring smiles and laughter to any woman that grew up with a crush on one of "The Coreys", and to young teenagers today, preoccupied with sex and social status, and dreaming of their imminent Rights of Passage via the DMV.

VERDICT: RENT IT

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