I knew that this film wasn't going to be a work of genius before watching it but I hadn't counted on it being so incredibly average. With plenty of talented performers and an interesting premise it's an incredible shame that Driving Lessons only ever hits one note.
Grint's Ben is neither funny or particularly sympathetic. The potential layers and emotional depth to this shy character are completely bypassed for repetitions of his simplicity and niceness. One of the most frustratingly unmotivated characters in recent cinema history, Ben's unconvincing drippiness is most emphasised in a four minute romance that tells us nothing about his character other than, you guessed it, he's a bit shy and nice.
Throughout we're aware of Grint's talent hiding somewhere, trying to get out but the stalled script simply won't let him. Such a shame. Walters actually has very little to do, her character equally one dimensional. Where's the wit? The aim is for an intelligent woman yet we get no sense of that and instead we just get a bit sweary and nice.
The film's biggest fault is that it feels totally under directed, no choices seem to have been made. There's no edge to dialogues, no genuine meaning or subtext resulting in a pic with all the depth of a puddle.
Why do British films keep giving us dated portrayals of, supposedly, contemporary middle England? Christian community in outer London? Hmmm.... I don't think most people here know anyone like Linney's character. Which would be fine were she not a one note monster. I want to know how Ben feels about his religious belief in the wake of her actions but I came away from the movie having learnt nothing about him.
Words fail me in the face of a film with as much potential as this being so unremittingly crap. For a teen, coming of age comedy this is a very bland, unadventurous pic. A very badly made one too. Such a shame.
Grint's Ben is neither funny or particularly sympathetic. The potential layers and emotional depth to this shy character are completely bypassed for repetitions of his simplicity and niceness. One of the most frustratingly unmotivated characters in recent cinema history, Ben's unconvincing drippiness is most emphasised in a four minute romance that tells us nothing about his character other than, you guessed it, he's a bit shy and nice.
Throughout we're aware of Grint's talent hiding somewhere, trying to get out but the stalled script simply won't let him. Such a shame. Walters actually has very little to do, her character equally one dimensional. Where's the wit? The aim is for an intelligent woman yet we get no sense of that and instead we just get a bit sweary and nice.
The film's biggest fault is that it feels totally under directed, no choices seem to have been made. There's no edge to dialogues, no genuine meaning or subtext resulting in a pic with all the depth of a puddle.
Why do British films keep giving us dated portrayals of, supposedly, contemporary middle England? Christian community in outer London? Hmmm.... I don't think most people here know anyone like Linney's character. Which would be fine were she not a one note monster. I want to know how Ben feels about his religious belief in the wake of her actions but I came away from the movie having learnt nothing about him.
Words fail me in the face of a film with as much potential as this being so unremittingly crap. For a teen, coming of age comedy this is a very bland, unadventurous pic. A very badly made one too. Such a shame.