License to Drive is a 1988 teen comedy/adventure, starring Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Carol Kane, Richard Masur, Heather Graham, Michael Manasseri and Nina Siemaszko.
The screenplay was written by Neil Tolkin who based it on a failed National Lampoon article that he wrote that caught the eye of producer Jeffrey A. Mueller. The film became very popular amongst teenagers primarily because of the popularity of 'the two Coreys' at the time but also as the script was to do with a subject which a large audience could relate to.
The film was in production during the latter months of 1987. It arguably represented both Corey Haim and Corey Feldman together at the peak of their teen success in the late 1980s, the pair would eventually make seven films together. It also marked Greg Beeman's directorial debut.
It was released on July 8, 1988 in the United States and grossed over $20 million at the domestic box office. It received a PG-13 rating in the United States, PG in the United Kingdom and M in Australia. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Tagline: Some guys get all the brakes!
Production
Production began in October of 1987 and was completed in December of that same year. The production companies for the film were 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment. Davis Entertainment was founded in 1988 by John Davis with License to Drive being its inagural film. On the special edition DVD's commentary track, Davis (who had previously worked on Three O'Clock High and Predator) was described as a major force in getting the film made. The film was originally to be released under the title of To Live and Drive in L.A..
Script
The script was based on a failed National Lampoon article that was written by the would be script writer for the film Neil Tolkin. The article that was written was based around how many times a teenager could produce lies. The text caught the attention of Fox producers, whom had ideas to adapt a particular part of the text to film, the text that was of a particular interest was how a teenager lied to his parents and his girlfriend after failing his driver’s license exam. Mueller believed that the idea had potentional to become a film. Tolkin would later attend driver’s educational classes at high schools and adapt several personal elements to the script, most notably, characters and moments that shaped his teenage years.
The script went through major changes following an audience review of the first cut. Most notably, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) stated that the film glorified drunk driving. The film was blamed for being irresoponsible as the target audience were teenagers and both Coreys were idols at the time. A lot of scenes were changed and a lot of the second half of the film was reshot to please the complaints.
Casting
From left to right, the three teenage stars of the film: Corey Haim who plays Les Anderson, Heather Graham who plays Les' love interest Mercedes Lane and Corey Feldman who plays Les' best friend Dean
Corey Haim and Corey Feldman first met in pre-production of the 1986 horror film The Lost Boys, though they had herd of each others names prior to the film, as Feldman has auditioned for Haim’s role in Lucas and Haim auditioned for Feldman’s role in The Goonies. After The Lost Boys the pair mutually agreed that it would be best to pursue individual careers rather than be known as The two Coreys, a name which had started to surface following public appearances for The Lost Boys. Feldman, after reading the script, thought that it was the right kind of film he should be doing at this point in his career, he auditioned numerous times for the role of Les during casting, as Haim was as well, though the pair were not certain whether each other were auditioning for the same role or not at the time.
The role of Les was given to Haim, upon hearing the news, Feldman was understandably upset, even considering leaving the film altogether at first sight, but accepted the role of Dean, despite playing second fiddle to Haim. Heather Graham was cast as Les' love interest, this was her major theatrical debut as she only had an uncredited role in Mrs. Soffel and a role in a small television film in 1987. One of the biggest names in the cast was Richard Masur, whom was cast as Les' father alongside Carol Kane as Les' mother.
Filming locations
The entire production was filmed in various neighborhoods and districts within Los Angeles, California, United States.
- Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
- Downey, Los Angeles County, California
- Echo Park, Los Angeles, Calfornia
- Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California
- Long Beach Freeway, Los Angeles, California
- Westchester, Los Angeles, California
Plot Summary
Mercedes claims that she and Les have a date on the weekend in order to make her boyfriend jealous.
Les Anderson, played by Corey Haim, has dozed off during a driver’s educational class at high school, dreaming about fast cars and hot girls. When class finishes, the teacher puts him on detention, making him write sentences on the blackboard regarding road safety. As he misses his bus due to detention, his best friend Dean pulls up on a bicycle, the pair gaze at fellow student Mercedes Lane, played by Heather Graham, whom Les was dreaming about in class, her older boyfriend pulls up in a Ferrari to pick her up; Les is left behind wondering if his life will ever get that good for him. Dean, played by Corey Feldman, takes Les home on his bicycle, the pair are inspired by Les' grandfather's 1974 Cadillac, which Les' father is looking after for a short while. Les' father is quick to interrupt their dreams, informing Les that when he obtains his license that he may drive a vehicle. Later that night Dean stops by to pick up Les to go to a high school party, the pair a taunted by older guys when they get dropped off by Dean's mother. Les again encounters Mercedes, whom is bickering with her older boyfriend who is complaining of having to go to a party full of children. To Les' uttermost surprise, Mercedes claims that she and Les (whom she picked at random) have a date on the weekend in order to make her boyfriend jealous. Unsurprisingly, a dumbfounded Les plays along with the prank. The next day Les spots Mercedes after school, he attempts to approach her and clear up what arrangements are actually planned for the weekend. However the plan is ditched when Les' father pulls up across the road which causes Les to run around the corner. Les convinces his father to let him borrow the car to drive up to Mercedes to impress her, Les in fact ends up driving her to a friend’s house, resulting in a long walk home for his father and punishment for Les.
The next day Les takes his test at the DMV where he fails the computer test, causing him to slam the monitor in frustration, which causes a power failure in the room, thus, Les' failed record is lost. His sister, who finished the test a few minuets before the power shortage, completed it with a perfect score, a DMV employee allows Les to proceed to the driven part of the test, assuming that his results could not have differed too much from his sisters. Les encounters an unorthodox driving instructor, who exchanges his clipboard for a cup of coffee, the coffee if spilt on him will result in a fail. Les eventually passes the vigorous test and receives his license, but is recalled by an angry DMV employee who found the results of the computer based test. His license is shredded at he is failed. Les solemnly wanders home where he is greeted by messages from Dean and congratulations from his family who all blindly assume he passed the test. He lies to his parents and friends about the result, as he feels some what ashamed of failing after placing such a critical importance on the result. His pregnant mother whilst doing the washing finds the real results of the test in his jeans pocket. The father runs upstairs to Les with a bottle of campaign, sarcastically celebrating the fact that Les saved him thousands of dollars. The father explains that since he did not get a license, he does not have to buy him that BMW anymore. Les lies in his bed, convinced that his date with Mercedes is over until she calls him at 11:00. Les, blinded by Mercedes beauty, takes his chances borrowing the Cadillac, which he wheels out of the garage and after ruining the lawn and hedge, unscrews the garage light bulb and drives off.
After picking up a dazzling Mercedes in a pink dress, the pair head off to the El Rey club, where Les is not admitted, Mercedes who does not realize Les is outside, spots her ex boyfriend who she slaps after a short conversation, she grabs a large alcoholic beverage and storms out in a huff. Out in the street Les is in a panic as his car is towed away, after jumping in front of the truck, he pays off the driver to give it back. Mercedes, obviously feeling responsible for his distress directs him to a romantic lookout across the Los Angeles skyline, where he pair listen to music and dance. After Mercedes passes out, Les heads to Dean’s house so he can fix a pushed in hood as a result of Mercedes jumping down from dancing atop the car.
Dean convinces Les to drive to Archie's with an inspiring speech where he explains the impotance of having a license and the freedom and opportunites that it brings.
Les is reluctantly convinced to drive out to Archie’s Atomic where girls on roller-skates serve food and females out number males, a location that is only accessible by car according to Dean. On the way the Cadillac veers off a highway because of Dean’s distractions and runs through a sound barrier. The group finally arrives at Archie’s and place a passed out Mercedes in the trunk. But they hastily leave as Charles accidentally chips the side of an older guy’s car which results in him and his friends approaching the Cadillac with crowbars and intent to harm. Les then accidentally dives through a protest where her sister is at after following her communist boyfriend along to the event. After escaping the rowdy mob the group is pulled over by a random breath testing police unit. After being unable to show the officer his license, Les confesses to Dean and Charles that he failed. The officer then finds Mercedes in the trunk, but is called to an urgent matter concerning the riot before he can investigate the matter any further. As the trio drag Mercedes out of the trunk, another drunk who was pulled over, drives off in their Cadillac. This forces them to take his car and pursue the man, who has totally ruined the car in his drunken state before Les is able to get into the car when the man passed out whilst driving on a unfinished bridge.
Now almost morning, Les drops off Dean and Charles who congratulate him on an adventurous night, then Mercedes who wakes up and recalls the events as a crazy dream but tells Les how safe she felt with him. Back at the house Les’ father has awoken to his wife’s distress that she may be going into labor, taking no risks, he takes her down to the car, which Les is simultaneously pulling in. Les’ father is so concerned about his wife that he does not notice the damage to the car until he sees the garage door is open then sees the wreck the car is. He proceeds to break down in disbelief when he spots Les hiding under the seat, however his anger is interrupted when Les’ mother starts going into labor, which forces Les to drive t the hospital when she will not allow him to leave her in the backseat. After the transmission breaks, Les is forced to drive in reverse and miraculously makes to the hospital. After medics take her up the stairs, Les’ father is even a little proud of him that he was able to drive so skillfully. As they ascend the hospital stairs a construction crane drops a beam on the car, destroying what was left of it. After the birth of the twins, Grandpa arrives home to find his Cadillac in disrepair but laughs it off as he reveals that he wrote off Les’ father’s BMW. Les’ father jokingly throws Les the keys, saying that is his BMW. Les declines, saying he already has a Mercedes. Mercedes pulls up and Les jumps in and the pair speed off into the distance.
Spoilers end here.
Reception
The film received ample reviews and was a favourite for the target teenage audience, but the film was well received amongst a broad range of ages groups, as the allocation of a driver's license played an important role in growing up, Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert summarrized this by stating that "..."License to Drive" remembers feelings like that, and it brings back the whole complex of emotions about being 16 and taking your test..." he goes on to state that the first half was funny but the rest was predictable.
Box office
The films budget at an estimated $8,000,000, would earn close to three times that figure during its release in cinemas. It opened on July 8 in 1,223 theatres in the United States, its opening weekend gross was $3,850,934, which would account for 17.2% of it's domestic gross. The film would accululate to $22,433,275 in the United States. The film was included in the top 50 highest grossing films of 1988.
Awards
In 1989 the film was nominated for three awards, all at the Young Artist Awards, seemingly fit, considering the film was very popular amongst youth during its release.
For Heather Graham, License to Drive had been her major theatrical debut and she was accordingly recognized by being nominated for a Young Artist Award - Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy, but lost out to Mayim Bialik for her role in Beaches. It was ironic that the The two Coreys were both nominated for the award for Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy, considering the competitiveness between the two for the original role of the lead in the film, the outcome of the award would have been interesting, however in the end, it was considered a tie and they both took home the award.
Other
Music
- Further information: License to Drive (soundtrack)
The original music in the film was composed by Jay Ferguson who had previously mainly only worked on smaller productions, with 1988 being somewhat of a breakthrough for the composer, as well as working on ‘’License to Drive’’ he was the composer for Johnny Be Good, a teen comedy starring Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey Jr. and Uma Thurman.
The opening credits of the film feature a cover of the popular Beatles song "Drive My Car" by The Breakfast Club, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The other song most prominently associated with the film was Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" whom he co-wrote with Robert John Lange. "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" along with New Edition's "Crucial" make up the original songs in the film.
DVD release
A special edition DVD was distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment in the United States on May 3, 2005. The film included widescreen presentation (1:85:1).
Special features included:
- Corey Haim interview
- Corey Feldman interview
- Audio commenary with Greg Beeman and Neil Tolkin
- Deleted Scene
- TV spots
- Theatrical trailers
- Screenplay (DVD-ROM)
References
