Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- seriocomic
- nostalgic
- empathetic
- reflective weekend viewing
- women's movie night
What critics said
Critics found the film strongest in its nuanced supporting performances and situational humor, but unevenly balanced its gritty family drama with cuteness and an overly neat resolution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Beverly becomes a wife and mother at sixteen while continuing to pursue high school, college, and writing.
The film combines teenage pregnancy, marital breakdown, and addiction with situational humor and nostalgic comic detail.
Beverly's educational and creative ambitions are repeatedly complicated by early parenthood, Ray's unstable employment, and family circumstances.
The story is based on Beverly Donofrio's memoir and traces her adult perspective back to the teenage event that redirected her life.
Films like Riding in Cars with Boys, and why
Terms of Endearment
shared coming-of-age drama, working-class family pressures, and bittersweet humor
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
shared female-centered life story, motherhood themes, and emotionally mixed comedy-drama tone
The Secret Life of Bees
shared biographical coming-of-age structure, ambition, and difficult parenthood
Movie Details
- Director
- Penny Marshall
- Release Date
- 2001-10-19
- Runtime
- 131 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (493)
Cast
- Drew Barrymore
- Steve Zahn
- Adam Garcia
- Brittany Murphy
- James Woods
- Lorraine Bracco
- Rosie Perez
- Sara Gilbert
- Peter Facinelli
- Mika Boorem
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Riding in Cars with Boys about?
- A bright Connecticut teenager struggles to preserve her dreams of college and writing after an unexpected pregnancy turns her into a young wife and mother.
- What is Riding in Cars with Boys like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Riding in Cars with Boys as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Riding in Cars with Boys violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Riding in Cars with Boys.
- What did critics think of Riding in Cars with Boys?
- Critics found the film strongest in its nuanced supporting performances and situational humor, but unevenly balanced its gritty family drama with cuteness and an overly neat resolution.
- Which films are like Riding in Cars with Boys?
- Films with a similar feel include Terms of Endearment, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and The Secret Life of Bees.
- How long is Riding in Cars with Boys?
- Riding in Cars with Boys runs 131 minutes.
- Where can I watch Riding in Cars with Boys?
- In United States, Riding in Cars with Boys streams on Hulu, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel.
