As the movie jumps back and forth in time, it displays an impressive cut-and-paste agility, skillfully interweaving humor and drama without tipping over into farce or soap opera.
58
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
When Barrymore finally gets mean, the movie finally gets good. Then comes another sing-along, dammit.
50
Film ThreatMichael Dequina
Film ThreatMichael Dequina
Whatever distinguished "Riding in Cars with Boys" the book certainly doesn't show up in the movie.
An article of faith for girls who just wanna have fun; only problem is that the movie doesn't go all the way.
40
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
In many ways, Marshall and Barrymore are an equal match -- while both have a flair for the small touches that build a good comic scene, each lacks the complex layering of motive and emotion that make a human life believably real.
Every scene is coated with Marshall's thumbprints, ultimately connecting into a manhandled, mangled, misshapen whole, its themes written out in thunderously obvious cues.
Buried under the miscalculations, the shamelessness, the off-putting and inappropriate broadness are sporadically visible souvenirs of a good project gone bad, hints of the unusual, bittersweet story that got away.