License to Drive (1988) Poster

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7/10
Get out of my Dreams, Get Into My Car! Oh yeah! 80's bliss...
indescreetman8 November 2006
License To Drive was one of those 80's flicks that I had always wanted to see, and yet, never could find a copy. Till now! It was playing on TV recently and I have not only watched it, but am waiting to see if I am fortunate to find the DVD so I can buy it.

Quite simply, if you are a fan of the 80's and/or love your nostalgia then this film is for you! Typical 80's groove, lingo, starring leads (introducing a young and very attractive Heather Graham in her screen debut as the delicious Mercedes Lane) and, something that definitely deserves a mention is the soundtrack! Great tunes that suit the mood perfectly. Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" was a highlight and with the title "License to Drive" was the ultimate song. There are others by Belinda Carlise and the Breakfast Club that will have you not only reminiscing, but toe tapping and humming as well.

Also, look out for James Avery as Les' DMV Instructor. What a champion! Anyway everyone, Get Outta Your Seats... Get it into your DVD player...

Have fun, Cheers!
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7/10
Still Very Funny
claudio_carvalho27 October 2015
The sixteen year-old Les Anderson (Corey Haim) has a crush on his schoolmate Mercedes Lane (Heather Graham), but he is shy and she has a boyfriend, Paolo (M.A. Nickles), who has a fancy car. Les and his twin sister Natalie Anderson (Nina Siemaszko) are preparing to the driving test and while Natalie studies the questions, he does not pay attention to them. Les fails the test but is not brave enough to tell neither to his father Mr. Anderson (Richard Masur) nor to his pregnant mother Mrs. Anderson (Carol Kane) and his best friends Dean (Corey Feldman) and the clumsy Charles (Michael Manasseri). When Mercedes has an argument with Paolo, she invites Les to date her to make Paolo jealous. Meanwhile Les' parents discover that he has flunked his driver's test and they ground him. However, when Mercedes calls him asking if they are not going to date, Les sneaks away from his house and drives his grandfather's Cadillac that is parked in the garage to date Mercedes in the beginning of a nightmarish night of adventures.

"License to Drive" is a comedy from the 80's still very funny after almost thirty years. This is one of the best roles of Corey Haim in the top of his career immediately after the cult "Lost Boys" and "Lucas" and the debut of Heather Graham. The plot would be considered "politically incorrect" in the present days but fortunately it was not a problem in 1988. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sem Licença para Dirigir" ("Without License to Drive")

Note: On 12 October 2018 I saw this film again.
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6/10
An innocent girl. A harmless drive. What could possibly go wrong?
vertigo_149 April 2004
Feast your eyes one of the last films that both Corey's will appear in that are of any merit for the rest of their brief careers. And this can be considered something of merit, despite the nature of the film, since they were only teen stars.

License to Drive is a movie about taking chances, though you can probably figure out from beginning to end how the movie is going to go. No less, it's good 80s fun. Les Anderson (Haim) has turned 16 and is desperate to get his driver's license. Over-confident, it is no surprise that he flunks the exam. But he figures no one would notice. So, he lies to his folks and friends about the whole thing, expecting everything will be smooth sailing until he can retake the exam.

But Les is wrong once again when his parents learned that he lied, serving up a harsh two week grounded term. But Les doens't know when to quit while he's ahead, and decides he's not going to let this little matter inconvenience him. After all, he has a Friday night date with his dream girl Mercedes Lane (Heather Graham). Hence the line, "an innocent girl, a harmless drive, what could possibly go wrong?" Everything. It all has to do with Les borrowing his grandfather's antique (and very off limits) Caddillac, a drunk date, and two friends looking for their newly licensed friend to show them a wild night. Sure it's predictable, but it's just a simple 80s comedy.
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Another 80s fave of mine.
billybrown4127 July 2001
This is one of the best films to ever feature the two Coreys. Yep, this is back when they were still cool. The movie has all sorts of funny situations and (intentionally) funny dialogue that actually works. I really love the scene involving the drunk. That may be a bit gross, but I still laguh. Really folks, it's the Summer, run to the video store and pick it up. Get your 80s fix.
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6/10
Driving in my car
Prismark1017 September 2016
License to Drive is a cheery, cheesy late 1980s comedy that stars the two Coreys.

Corey Haim is a 16 year old High School Kid who arrives to school by bus. He daydreams of driving a red corvette with school hottie Mercedes Lane.

The film starts of breezily as he tries to pass the test and gets his licence. His twin sister sails through the theory test, he does not. His twin sister gets a very nice examiner for the practical, he gets James Avery who is gruff, takes him on difficult roads and puts a cup of hot coffee on the dashboard and Corey better not spill it.

Corey flunks his tests and does not mention this to his parents and friends. The second half of the movie is less interesting as Corey borrows his grandfather's Cadillac to take Mercedes out on a date as she wants to make her boyfriend jealous and ends up getting in various scrapes.

License to Drive is not a great film but even after almost 30 years it is still fun. Corey Feldman as always is still annoying. It always surprised me how far he went with such limited talent for a few years.
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7/10
"You can drive in reverse, son?" "All is forgiven"!!!
Aaron137516 March 2009
This was a rather funny movie featuring Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, showing that these two for a short span really had something going coming off the very cool vampire movie "The Lost Boys". This movie is just about your average teen trying to pass his driving test and getting his license along with his ultra bright and nerdy twin sister. He also gets to go out on a date with a very attractive lady as well named Mercedes (played by Heather Grahme). Well for some reason he does not do so well on the computer quiz portion of the driving test, but thanks to some luck the test results are wiped out and he is given the chance to take the driving portion of the test. Which of course is highly unlikely no matter how well his sister scored. Well he somehow manages to pass the driving portion despite having a driving instructor from hell while his sister gets the guy everyone should want during this part. In the end though they find his score and no license. Well through a series of strange events he gets his grampa's car and takes the hot girl out as she proceeds to get drunk and pass out. He then picks up his friends as they try to get to this cool hangout. Lets just say a lot of stuff happens and that car takes some hits. I especially found the drunk guy funny. In the end I found the end a bit much, but then most comedies I find have a weak spot in their armor. However, this was a rather funny comedy that passes the test.
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6/10
"Good 80's Comedy!"
gwnightscream13 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Heather Graham, Nina Siemaszko, Carol Kane and Richard Masur star in this 1988 comedy. The late, Haim (The Lost Boys) plays teen, Les who fails his driving test and decides to secretly borrow his grandfather's 1972 Cadillac to go on a date with school crush, Mercedes (Graham). His romantic, Saturday night turns into a crash course when dealing with drunk drivers and such. Haim's Lost Boys co-star, Feldman plays his pal, Dean, Siemaszko (Airheads) plays Les' older sister, Natalie and Kane (The Princess Bride) and Masur (Risky Business) play their parents. This is a good 80's flick I've liked since I was a kid. Haim & the cast are good in it as well as Jay Ferguson's score. I recommend this.
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4/10
Pure 1980s
Oh i love this movie. I know i only gave it 4 stars, but lets face it folks thats what it deserves. But I do love this movie, if its ever on TV I can help but watch it. This is a perfect 80s movie, with both of the freakin corey's how can you beat that? With a stick. Anyway, you know what you got here - a stupid teen 80s movie about getting your drivers liscense. If it sounds like something you don't want to see then don't see it. Otherwise go an see it, its better than Cats. I do hate the one corey, you know the one that always has his mouth open, lousy mouth breather, he's the one that got fat and almost died from drugs, oh wait they both did that.
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10/10
Fasten your seat belts, this is one awesome ride!
ilovethegame0526 April 2005
When most people think of the seminal 80's teenage actors and films, the first thing that comes to mind are the 'brat pack' films. Sure, those were excellent films and very talented actors, but with all the focus on those actors sometimes the gems get overlooked. License to Drive is surely on of those gems.

License To Drive, one of only a few films that stars both Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, is a perfect 80's teen comedy. Shot at the height of both of the Coreys careers, while they were both still in high school, the film captures their youthful spirit perfectly. License to Drive is hilarious and outrageous while still remaining simple and easy to follow.

Haim plays Les Anderson who like every high school kid has nothing but girls and cars on his mind. But this isn't just any girl. Les has his eye on the most beautiful girl in school. The bombshell is played by a very young and beautiful, Heather Graham. When Les is lucky enough to score a date with the bombshell, the only obstacle he must overcome is his pending drivers license test so that he can take his fathers car to pick her up in.

Like most high school students, Les slept through drivers education class and when the time comes, he fails his drivers test. But the fun has just begun. Les isn't going to let this stop him. He takes the car anyways. Uh oh... this never turns out right. The night takes a turn for the worse when Les's best friend (Corey Feldman) shows up with 'a plan.' Another bad sign. Well the night just gets wilder and wilder and ends up with Heather Graham drunk as a skunk locked in the trunk of a car, police roadblocks, crazed militants running the streets and some really mean and angry drag racers to boot.

License To Drive really has it all. It's a perfect 80's teenage comedy. The DVD has loads of extra goodies including interviews with the stars and tons of deleted footage.

Fasten your seat belts, you're in for one totally awesome ride!!!
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7/10
Typical '80's teen comedy
rob-23617 May 1999
License to drive again pairs Corey Haim with his namesake Feldman in this jolly teen comedy. Haim plays a boy who has failed his driving test but pretends he has passed in order to take the girl of his dreams ('BOOGIE NIGHTS' star Heather Graham in an early role) out on a date. The date turns into a nightmare as Haim - in his grandad's car - along with Feldman and co. get more than they bargain for when everything that can go wrong does. A great laugh in the vein of a John Hughes movie it really is typical of the type of film which Hollywood churned out in the mid to late 1980s.
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5/10
The traditional 1980s mix
Mattias10 July 1999
The only revolutionary about this film is Natalie's boyfriend the marxist. Apart from that, this is just a run-of-the-mill teenage comedy of the 1980s. Nothing surprising happens and all the characters behave as we expect them to: Les' annoying friends, his sister ('A' student with glasses), Mercedes' ex-boyfriend the playboy. Corey Haim does nothing special out of his acting.
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10/10
Haimster and Feldog's 2nd best film
lim6668 November 2004
One of the better 80's teen flicks in which Haim and Feldman manage to pull off surprisingly good performances. If you are going 2watch any of their movies make it this one as their output in the nineties as not up to scratch. Nice to see a young Heather Graham in one of her first decent roles as the out of reach babe Haim falls for. The film is also complimented by the great soundtrack featuring eighties greats, Billy Ocean, Belinda Carlisle and many others. Look out for a great cameo from Uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air who plays Les' driving instructor. The Scene with the drunk driver is especially funny. This film is made even more hilarious by the fact that Corey Haim drove round LA without a real driving license for many years when he was in his wild child years. They Rock.
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6/10
I am so dead they're going to have to bury me twice.
JakeRfilmfreak11 January 2024
License To Drive is a 1988 teen comedy that follows a 16 year old who after failing his driving test still ends up going on a joy ride that he'll never forget.

This is one of the classic 80's films that features the two Coreys. Haim and Feldman made several movies together over the years, and although The Lost Boys will always be my favorite that they appear in, License To Drive is definitely in second place. It's a great comedy that slams on the gas and takes you on a hilarious adventure that doesn't slow down until the end credits. It's got a fun story, great cast, and absolutely screams 80's nostalgia.

If you've never seen this movie before, I would recommend checking it out.
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1/10
Banal teen flick
gcd7014 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This banal film would surely only appeal to twelve to fifteen year-olds with little or no taste. Written by Neil Tolkin and directed by Greg Beeman, "License to Drive" finds the Corey twins (Haim and Feldman) as young teens who would do anything to obtain a driver licence, even lie! When young 'Les' (Haim) does just this in order to take out the girl of his dreams, all hell breaks loose.

All the humour (or at least ninety-eight percent of it) fails in this pathetically predictable teen-flick. And the film's main draw cards, Corey and Corey and of course Heather Graham, put up a poor showing in this stupid movie. Don't bother!

Sunday, September 20, 1992 - Video
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Fun and Lightweight...Just what a teenage comedy needs to be!
Chiron198716 July 1999
License to Drive is one of those few movies to come on at three in the morning on a Friday night that will always capture my attention. It is a fun comedy, and one of the last of its genre at the near end of the decadent 80s.

One-time teen sensations, Corey Haim and Corey Feldmen, hot off Joel Schumacher's teen vampire opus The Lost Boys, star as a pair of friends who spend one wild night in Haim's character, Les Anderson's grandfather's 16-year old prize Cadillac. Well, naturally, hilarity ensues, as does every driving disaster known to man.

Great performances abound, especially our two starring Coreys, but also look for stand-out turns by Richard Masur and Carol Kane as the hapless parents of Les. Also keep your eyes opened for a young Heather Graham, who plays the aptly named Mercedes, and the object of young Les' affection.

All in all, an enjoyable, breezy comedy.

Highly recommended.
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6/10
A slightly funny teen comedy!!
elo-equipamentos27 September 2018
Something around eight years ago about Corey Haim's death let me sad over so young actor died by drugs, l remembered just this picture which he had a leading role,now revisiting License to Drive on DVD format on classic dubbed version l try hard to see virtues to made an upgrade of my previous rating, but despite really good things along the picture seems a bit strained in several unbelievable situations that try mislead our sense of reality, of course it was made driven to teenagers audiences but bit immature when l watched it on first time, watchable, enjoyable but totally childish, a smart conclusion on the end was the high point, the young Heather Granhan drunk all the time made a decent job shown potential skills to move forward!!

Resume:

First watch: 1989 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 6.5
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6/10
License passes the test
Fluke_Skywalker21 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Plot; A 16 year old boy fails his drivers exam only to be approached by his dream girl for a date. His solution? Steal his Grandfather's mint condition Cadillac and take her out regardless.

A vehicle--no pun...okay, pun intended--for the two "Coreys" (Haim and Feldman), this is actually an energetic, quirky and surprisingly well made 80s teen comedy. I don't know that Haim was one of our great thespians, but he makes for a plucky and likable hero here. It helps that he's surrounded by a talented and game supporting cast, including Carol Kane, Richard Masur and an impossibly gorgeous Heather Graham, who takes what would otherwise have simply been a one dimensional "Hot object of the hero's affections" role and makes her charming and likable. It's far from a classic, but certainly worth checking out for those who are fans of the 80s teen genre and may have forgotten about it.
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6/10
Dangerous Driving
sol-8 July 2016
Too embarrassed to admit that he failed his driving exam, a teenager is coaxed into taking a girl who he fancies and two friends out for a crazy night on the town in this Corey Haim and Corey Feldman comedy. Fresh from 'The Lost Boys', Haim is well cast as the nervous teen protagonist and it is fun to see Heather Graham younger than ever as Haim's girlfriend to-be. Amusing moments include the harsh driving test that James Avery makes Haim undergo and a drunk driver appropriating Haim's car. A number of jokes do, however, backfire - though the most underwhelming aspect of the film is that it never really reaches its potential. Having a passed-out Graham in the boot of the car could have easily been played for bigger laughs. The supporting characters are also not nearly as wacky and memorable as those in the slightly similar Keanu Reeves comedy 'The Night Before' or even 'After Hours' and 'Into the Night', to name a couple of other iconic nighttime mischief movies. The film is pretty lightweight on the message side of things too with the idea that Haim will learn more about how to drive in one crazy night than in a hundreds textbooks very obvious from the get-go. If one does not dig too deep into things though, 'License to Drive' is a largely enjoyable affair. Clocking in at under 90 minutes, it is very briskly paced to accurately reflect how overwhelming the seeming non-stop madness is for Haim. The film isn't scared of being zany either; just listen to what the DMV lady tells Haim not to do with them since they "can make your life a living hell"!
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2/10
Worst movie ever!
brighton_stephen12 September 2012
This movie has been very, very terrible to watch. I hate this film so much, it makes me not buy it to watch on VHS, Blu-Ray, or DVD. The plot is horrible, and the cast is uselessly picked. It's like a terrible mix of Rush Hour and Dr. No. Why did they create this film? I hate to answer the question. This comedy needs a lot of help, and is so bad, you need an actor to explain this movie for you. Another problem with this film is that it is a short length. If you asked to buy this film, I wouldn't ask myself. I believe this film is unfunny and I need to see a film that doesn't have bad taste in comedy. I don't believe that Corey Haim would make a great lead, either.
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8/10
A fun movie!
roisinodonoghue2 May 2010
I freaking love this movie!Its hilarious!The bit with the drunk just kills me every time.This is an absolute classic,one of the best 80s movies.Haim is SO funny in this(RIP)!and so is Feldman.I laugh so hard every single time I watch it, it just never gets old!Carol Kane does a great job as the pregnant mother and Richard Masur is brilliant.This is a timeless film, I showed it to my friends and they loved it!I may turn them into Corey fans!Heather Graham does a good job in this too, she was quite funny and I like the dress she wears at the party.If you have not seen this movie yet, then rent it,order it,it is well worth it!Id recommend it to Corey fans and comedy lovers.8/10
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7/10
A GOOD light hearted movie you gotta watch!!!
harishnair21-121 September 2007
Well,I got hold of this movie from one of my friends and started watching it without any great expectations. But frankly speaking,this movie kept me entertained throughout. Its not the kind of movie where you are gonna die of laughter,but its worth a watch because of its light hearted nature. It will remind you of your days you spend to get hold of a drivers license.The lead actor(Corey haim) in this movie is pretty good and is well suited for the role.

Carol Kane plays her role as his pregnant mom pretty well, and Richard Masur is superb as his understandably flustered dad. The Haim-Feldman team works pretty well together.

Its a perfect movie whenever you are in a mood to watch a light hearted movie. i was surprised to see a 5.4 rating for this movie. Its surely worth 6 or 6.5.

If you love teen movies you gotta watch this one!!
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5/10
The Vidiot Reviews...
capone6663 June 2011
License to Drive

Driver's exams are the only assessment wherein, after you've passed, you can disregard everything you learned.

Unfortunately, the new driver in this comedy must retain proper road etiquette a while longer, because he failed.

Passing the road test, but not the written portion, Les (Corey Haim) is accidentally granted a license, which is later revoked.

Being unlicensed, however, doesn't stop him from lying to his parents (Carol Kane, Richard Masur), so that he can take out the hottest girl in school, Mercedes (Heather Graham).

While his fib fails, Les is not impeded. After dark he absconds with his grandfather's Cadillac and goes on a disastrous joyride with his drunken date and loser buddies (Corey Feldman, Michael Manasseri).

Revving with riotous laughs, License to Drive is an ode to adolescent autoerotism and rebellion.

Besides, it doesn't matter if a 16-year-old male doesn't have a license; he's paying triple for car insurance. (Yellow Light)

vidiotreviews.blogspot.com
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8/10
Legendary
jgibbzy14 April 2006
Looking back into the mist of time (when i was a child of the eighties) This is the film that encapsulates that time for me. Funny, blokes with rolled up sleeve jackets and with terrible acting by Haim what's not to like? Getting serious for a moment, it is actually a very good film. Tightly written, well directed and with good supporting acting it would get a nine if only Haim could stop a) Blinking b) Keep his mouth shut, he looks like a fish. If anyone wants to know what all the fuss was about in the late eighties with two lads called Corey, then this is the film to watch. In fact it should be given to directors as a how to manual, on how to make a light breezing ENTERTAINING film, which the movies sadly lack these days. A film every home should own. LEGENDARY.
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7/10
Corey Double Dose
iquine30 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
(Flash Review)

The best way to impress the high school hottie in the 80's was with a set of wheels and, hopefully, a license to drive. Les doesn't take his driver's exam seriously enough and fails at his first attempt. With a date lined up with a cute high school girl (appropriately named as Mercedes), how will he drive her around on the date without his license? One can guess what he does and how nervous he gets taking his parent's car without permission. What mischief will ensue? How will the date go? With a double dose of Corey's, Haim and Feldmen, you get the most popular late 80's high school due together with some good 80's dialog zingers as well as some great car scenes that are reminiscent of American Graffiti. There are many memorable and amusing scenes that are pure 80's. Relive the 80's in style with this movie as well as Uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince as the intimidating driving instructor!
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4/10
Predictable but entertaining.
Summerland25 October 1999
This is very typical of lightweight 80's comedies. Not too exciting, but it will entertain you for the two hours you commit to it. It is worth watching to see Heather Graham, if for no other reason.
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