License to Drive (1988) User Reviews

Get out of my Dreams, Get Into My Car! Oh yeah! 80's bliss...

[indescreetman · 7/10 · 8 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!

Still Very Funny

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 27 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.

An innocent girl. A harmless drive. What could possibly go wrong?

[vertigo_14 · 6/10 · 9 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.

Another 80s fave of mine.

[billybrown41 · 27 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.

Driving in my car

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 17 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.

"You can drive in reverse, son?" "All is forgiven"!!!

[Aaron1375 · 7/10 · 16 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.

A Good What-Could-Go-Wrong Teen Comedy

[boblipton · 6/10 · 30 May 2023]

Corey Chaim has just flunked his driver's test. When Heather Graham calls him and asks for a lift to a date, what do you think a sixteen-year-old boy is going to do?

It's a good script, with plenty of car stunts and some decent performances in a movie that seems a little too gemutlich for 1988; judging by all the Frank Sinatra on the soundtrack the production staff wanted something that grandma and grandpa could also go to.

I don't know if the Cadillac that features here was repainted or the color values in the copy I saw shifted, but my mother had a 1972 sky-blue Cadillac and it wasn't that shade.

With Corey Feldman, Carol Kane, Richard Masure, and Nina Siemaszko.

Pure 1980s

[Horrorible_Horror_Films · 4/10 · 4 April 2007]

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.

Fasten your seat belts, this is one awesome ride!

[ilovethegame05 · 10/10 · 26 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!!!

"Good 80's Comedy!"

[gwnightscream · 6/10 · 13 December 2015]

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.

The traditional 1980s mix

[Mattias · 5/10 · 10 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.

Haimster and Feldog's 2nd best film

[lim666 · 10/10 · 8 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.

Typical feel good movie of the 80's

[Superunknovvn · 7/10 · 24 June 2007]

I am so intrigued by teenage comedies from the 80's. The way people dressed back then, the music they listened to, their hair... I could go on and on. It's really freaky to look at all this from a distance.

The other thing that I like about 80's comedies is that they are so innocent. No dick jokes, no fart jokes, just the good old problem of the main character trying not to get grounded.

"License To Drive" is an overlooked little movie from that genre. It's no great classic like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", but it does have its charms. The two Coreys are in there as is a VERY young Heather Graham.

The characters and the plot are totally unbelievable and there are no real laugh out loud-moments, but that doesn't matter so much. It's one of those flicks that are entertaining to watch nonetheless. If you like comedies like "Adventures In Babysitting" or "Hot Pursuit", this one's for you.

Banal teen flick

[gcd70 · 1/10 · 14 October 2007]

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

Fun and Lightweight...Just what a teenage comedy needs to be!

[Chiron1987 · 16 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.

A GOOD light hearted movie you gotta watch!!!

[harishnair21-1 · 7/10 · 21 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!!

License passes the test

[Fluke_Skywalker · 6/10 · 21 August 2016]

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.

Silly but fun

[grantss · 6/10 · 7 January 2017]

Les Anderson (Corey Haim) is about to take his driving test. He has a few things planned, based on the presumption that he will pass. Not least is a date with the girl of his dreams, Mercedes Lane (Heather Graham). Then he fails, and his plans are shattered. He doesn't tell anyone that he has failed though and goes ahead with the date with Mercedes. Key to his night out is taking his grandfather's prized 16-year old low-mileage Cadillac, left in the care of his father. The car, and his attempts to keep it unharmed, are the source of many adventures that night. However, his friend, Dean (Corey Feldman), is the number 1 source, egging him on...

Famous for starring the two Coreys, Haim and Feldman, this is a reasonably juvenile yet good fun comedy. Maybe a bit too farcical for its own good but has enough funny, even hilarious, moments and energy to sustain it.

Good performance by Corey Haim. I found Corey Feldman irritating, however - a bit too over-the-top. Heather Graham, in her first credited movie role, puts in a solid performance as Mercedes. Some familiar faces among the supporting cast - Carol Kane, Nina Siemaszko, Richard Masur, James Avery - and they all put in solid performances.

Worst movie ever!

[brighton_stephen · 2/10 · 12 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.

A fun movie!

[roisinodonoghue · 8/10 · 2 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

80s Nostalgia

[The-Sarkologist · 7/10 · 20 January 2024]

I reckon I saw this film in the cinema when it first came out. It was basically when I was hanging around with some older uni-students who would go to the movies every so often, and I decided that I would go with them. Anyway, I really don't know how many times I have seen this film, but it sure does take me back to a younger age, even if it wasn't all that innocent.

So, the film is about this kid who is supposed to get his driver's license. Well, he goes and sits the test, but fails. However, he kicks the computer and all the information is lost (though they later managed to get it, and proceed to fail him). However, since he doesn't want to be labelled a failure (and the fact that the US is a car-centric hell hole) he decides to lie and tell everybody that he passed. Mind you, his parents quickly find out, and of course he is grounded. The catch is that the girl he likes calls him up, so he does what every good teenager does, and steals the car.

Yeah, the film is pretty much about the wild night out, and honestly, as a teenager I really did connect to this film. Like, okay, in Adelaide we did have decent public transport, but back in those days we really did see the car as some sort of freedom. Like, take the scene at Archies - it was that legendary place that you could only get to if you have a car.

Mind you, it is also the instance that the car comes back scratched, and ends up completely trashed (namely because they have to rush the mother to the hospital, and the only person who can drive is basically the kid without a license - and I'm pretty surprised that he managed to get all the way to hospital, speeding, in the wrong direction, without getting pulled over by the cops).

Mind you, it does, probably not intentionally, highlight the nature of cars in the United States, but that is honestly another discussion for another time. Instead let us just remember it for a time when I was young, and it was a film that I really did relate to.

The Vidiot Reviews...

[capone666 · 5/10 · 3 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

Legendary

[jgibbzy · 8/10 · 14 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.

Bit of fun

[mohamadacma · 6/10 · 3 November 2019]

80s movies are cool in general. This film is the story of a teenage boy that failed his drive license test but nonetheless stole his grandpa's car one night and took his date,a girl to a party at which they spent a very short amount of time to go back to his friends to embark on a journey of exploring the streets, getting in contact with a mob, for the car stolen by a drunk,faced the police and finally that came back with a broken car. Only good end was getting a kiss from the drunk girl he got her home at the end. His father forgives him after showing his prowess in driving by driving his parents to the hospital so that the mother deliver her baby twins. Cool teenage film. Bit of comedy. The 80s ambience is cool,the cassette, the songs, and the clothes all make the film reminiscent of an cool 80s aura. But not that deep of a film.

Predictable but entertaining.

[Summerland · 4/10 · 25 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.