Dir: Jeremy Brock
Cast: Julie Walters, Laura Linney, Rupert Grint.
There is more driving - not suprisingly given the title - in Driving Lessons, but it would be wrong to describe it as a road movie. This is more your standard rites-of-passage picture about a 17-year-old North London boy who finally emerges from the restrictive upbringing imposed by his over-protective, over-religious parents, thanks to the intervention of a batty oold actress.
On a rare break from Hogwarts, Rupert Grint plays Ben, the shy sun of an uptight, Bible-bashing mum. She’s partly why he takes a summer job with retired actress Evie (Julie Walters). The quick, smart and shy Ben is fast-tracked from learner driver to chaffeur as they take a road trip to Edinburgh, in which the outrageously liberated Dame Evie tries to broaden Ben’s mind.
Ben discovers what life has to offer, loses his "socila autism, " inhibitions and, most importantly, his virginity. The journey ends with Ben meeting a girl, losing his virginity - and driving his religious mother, Laura (Laura Linney) up the wall with his new-found love of life.
Driving Lessons may seem a tad OTT, but it’s autobiographical. Director Jeremy Brock reportedly based the screenplay on his own experiences working for Dame Peggy Ashcroft. It’s hard to belive, though, she was as foul-mouthed as her movie alter-ego. It might not pass with flying colours, but this gentle coming-of-age comedy motors along likeably enough.
It’s the matriarchs that dominate, with Linney unleashing a flawless English accent as the Bible-bashing Laura. Walters wild-eyed performance has more than a hint of Acorn Antiques about it. Grint meanwhile, turns up wearing that over-familiar queasy-Ron Weasley look. Judging by this effort, the young redhead still has a lot of work to do before he makes a lot of work to do before he makes a succesful leap from child star to serious actor. However, he does just enough to steer sympathy in the right direction.
And Walters saves the day with a riotous turn that has Bafta Award written all over it. Everybody loves Julie Walters - and she is the driving force in this charming Brit-com, which is being touted as the next Calender Girls.