56
Metascore
19 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70VarietyRonnie ScheibVarietyRonnie ScheibBasically conservative yet titillatingly "eccentric" British laffer could succeed in the "Full Monty" import slot.
- 70Village VoiceVillage VoiceThe sentiment's a bit thick sometimes, but Walters remains sharp, and is sure to inspire drag queens everywhere.
- 70L.A. WeeklyChuck WilsonL.A. WeeklyChuck WilsonWhile Driving Lessons' writer-director, Jeremy Brock, sticks to the all-too-familiar template of such tales, he's given Walters her best role since "Educating Rita." Hamming it up with the precision of a master, she makes this somewhat plodding film a pleasure, as does young Grint.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenThe screwball aging diva genre isn't the only formula guiding this stubbornly old-fashioned movie. Driving Lessons belongs to the silly feel-good mode of "The Full Monty," "Calendar Girls," "Billy Elliot," "Kinky Boots" and dozens of other celebrations of Britons defying convention to become "free," whatever that means.
- 63New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanLinney hits a single note for her uptight character, while Walters travels the scale indiscriminately. Her outsized eccentric darts from amusing to grating. Only Grint is just right, as the boy they, and the film, can't do without.
- 60Los Angeles TimesGene SeymourLos Angeles TimesGene SeymourDriving Lessons follows the well-worn path laid down by other, better movies while making strained, ludicrous things happen toward the end.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenThe Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenAiming for wacky and heartwarming, the film is, at its sporadic best, a mildly diverting coming-of-age story. At its worst, it feels forced.
- 50Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternWall Street JournalJoe MorgensternThis coming-of-age movie, is a clumsy contraption, but it's nice to see Rupert Grint coming out from under that colorful thatch, and coming, not a moment too soon, into an appealing pre-maturity.
- 42Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyLinney 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.