“Driver’s Ed” follows a group of teens who hit the road in a stolen driver’s ed car, racing against the clock to help a lovesick high school senior track down his college freshman girlfriend and win her back.
Because of the characters, “Driver’s Ed” is entertaining almost immediately. One misses his long-distance girlfriend. Another just separated herself from a friend group and doesn’t believe in love. Another is constantly high and has failed driver’s ed three times. Another is a certified “nerd” and the valedictorian. And the adult of the group has broken arms alongside being… a terrible instructor. These contrasting personalities clash in hilarious ways, generating laughter very quickly into the 98-minute runtime.
But it’s not just about the comedy, as there’s also drama within. Due to the characters being explored as both individuals and a group, there are separate dynamics. As people, they each have journeys that are worth investing in. As a quartet, the road trip leads to external conflict between them and their teachers. But even within the group itself, there are also complex relationships and backstories that are explored. While much of the development is stereotypical, it still works.
The hijinks within “Driver’s Ed” make complete sense because these are high schoolers. During adolescence, all emotions are heightened — including love. What’s least believable of it all? They’re all fairly good drivers.
After a certain point, however, the film begins to grasp at straws. The successful setup carries “Driver’s Ed” until its midway point, but there, it struggles to retain its momentum. This is largely because absurdity fully takes over. What starts as a simple story transitions into a series of shenanigans. Thomas Moffett’s script puts the movie in a repetitive cycle that is funny, but nonetheless too over-the-top for its own good. Conversations between the characters are when the film is at its best. Police chases or armed robberies? Not so much.
Eventually, though, director Bobby Farrelly goes back to the basics. As “Driver’s Ed” draws to a close, the characters’ destinations make the slightly overlong journey worth it. While it gets distracted along the way, the commitment to development is fully present in the introduction and conclusion.
It’s also surprisingly heartfelt. Ultimately about the transition from high school to college, it offers insight about growth that viewers of all ages can learn from. We all went through that confusing period of life, and the movie is relatable because of this.
The performances themselves play a major role in crafting likable leads. Sam Nivola (Jeremy), Sophie Telegadis (Evie), Mohana Krishnan (Aparna) and Aidan Laprete (Yoshi) star. While Jeremy starts as the film’s “heart,” it’s really the entire ensemble that makes “Driver’s Ed” what it is. Nivola has relentless optimism, with sincerity ringing from every word that he delivers. Playing a film nerd, he portrays an individual that many movie fans will connect with. Telegadis is equally charismatic. She and Nivola bounce off each other for some of the most impactful moments. Krishnan is the quietest of the bunch, but adds subtle touches of kindness. Laprete is certainly the “comedic” addition, and he delivers. His expressions and delivery adequately encapsulate his character’s “going with the vibes” persona. He oftentimes doesn’t have to say much at all to deliver laughs.
Also in the movie is Kumail Nanjiani (Mr. Rivers). While not prominently featured, Nanjiani is a part of several standout sequences. As usual, he’s effortlessly funny, with a personality that contrasts perfectly with the younger actors.
Director of photography Itai Ne’eman and editor Julie Garcés keep things simple here. “Driver’s Ed” isn’t attempting to be flashy with its visuals — it lets the characters do the talking. However, it is generally “bland,” and there are also notable inadequacies in green screen usage at times.
“Driver’s Ed” is a standard road trip movie. It’s full of stereotypical personalities and exaggerated storylines, but it works. The film manages to capture a specific and confusing period in life in surprisingly heartfelt ways.
Rating: 3 out of 5
