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Beverly Donofrio (Drew Barrymore) has dreams, shared by her dad (James Woods), of what she would
do after high school. However, her life takes a sudden and unexpected turn at 15, when she finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy. She has no intention of getting married;
but seeing how much her condition has affected her father, the town's chief of police, and the embarrassment he would feel when friends and family would come to know this, she
tells him she would do the right thing. She marries Ray Hasek (Steve Zahn), the father of their expected child and they set up house with her determination to make
their life work out. Instead, from then on everything seems to go downhill. Ray turns out to be of no help to her and their little family. She barely copes with their son
Jason (Adam Garcia) on whom she places responsibilities beyond his own age, while she doggedly tries to finish her studies and works her way towards winning a scholarship for
the university, which she doesn't get. Her world crashes when she finds out that Ray has been a heroin junkie even before they met. He needs her. What is she going to do? Will
she be able to keep her family together and in good shape? Will she have to give up her dreams?
Based on the book by the real Beverly Donofrio on her life, Riding In Cars With Boys is a superbly
crafted screen story and a movie that is beautifully directed by the Penny Marshall. Drew Barrymore very effectively gives life to Beverly's complex character.
She is very well supported by an able cast who gives complementary performances: Brittany Murphy (Beverly's best friend Faye), Adam Garcia (her son Jason), Lorraine Bracco
(her mother), and especially Steve Zahn and James Woods. The little sketches of happenings add, rather than detract from the main plot, making the story more human and
true-to-life.
This heartwarming autobiographically-based movie, at times unintentionally funny, depicts Beverly's
development as a person, with members of her family and her best friend behind her. Her setback however is that at 22, with a six-year-old boy, she still has not accepted the
life she has. She keeps on looking at what she is missing. That she continues to hold on to her dreams and finding ways to make them happen each time she is thwarted, shows
her indomitable character. Ray, at heart is a good person but with limitations. He has a special love for and relationship with his son who loves him in return. In his own
way, he loves Beverly despite his shortcomings. Another point to consider is what, at one instance, Beverly says: "In one day you can make your life" and "In one day you can
ruin your life." A final word goes to the young who are not prepared to marry, and parents who are faced with a pregnancy out-of-wedlock: Let it not be a case of "Marry in
haste and regret at leisure."
(Date reviewed: February 15, 2002)
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