Movie Review

Driving Lessons (2006)

Reviewed by Gregory Kirschling | Oct 11, 2006

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EW's GRADE

C-

Details Limited Release: Oct 13, 2006; Rated: PG-13; Length: 95 Minutes; Genres: Comedy, Drama; With: Rupert Grint and Laura Linney

Image credit: Driving Lessons: Jay Maidment

HYMN AND HER Grint wrestles with the strictures of the religious fervor handed down by his mom (Linney) in Lessons

You feel for 17-year-old Ben (Rupert Grint). His mom is a controlling Bible thumper (Laura Linney). His ''best friend'' is Evie, a hunched-over, Auntie Mame-ish actress (a shrill Julie Walters). In the rigged comic battle that ensues over his young soul, naturally Driving Lessons is on swanny Evie's side (she steals the boy away for a road trip to Edinburgh — fun!), but Linney is too sensitive and capable an actress to play a stock villain like this. That everyone in the movie dislikes her makes you dislike everyone in the movie.

Originally posted Oct 11, 2006 Published in issue #903 Oct 20, 2006 Order article reprints

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DVD Review Driving Lessons

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