Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- nostalgic movie night
- teen comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the cast appealing and the premise suited to teenagers, but considered the comedy overly silly and increasingly predictable.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Les's decision to borrow his grandfather's Cadillac without a license leads to progressively worse damage and danger over one night.
Les's driving test, borrowed Cadillac, and desire to impress Mercedes all make driving the concrete symbol of teenage freedom.
The grandfather's Cadillac is introduced as Les's means of impressing his date and becomes the central engine of the night's escalating mishaps.
The film frames romance, suburban mobility, nightlife, and the Cadillac as aspirational markers of 1980s American teenage life.
Films like License to Drive, and why
Adventures in Babysitting
teen romantic comedy driven by reckless teenage misadventure, friendship, and broad physical humor
The Secret of My Success
1980s teen comedy combining youthful rebellion, romance, and escalating comic complications
The Goonies
buddy-centered coming-of-age comedy with adolescent schemes and an upbeat pop-culture tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Greg Beeman
- Release Date
- 1988-07-06
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (431)
Cast
- Corey Haim
- Corey Feldman
- Carol Kane
- Richard Masur
- Heather Graham
- Michael Manasseri
- Harvey Miller
- Michael A. Nickles
- Nina Siemaszko
- Grant Goodeve
Where to watch in United States
- 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 License to Drive about?
- An eager teenager borrows a Cadillac for a romantic night out, only to turn his quest for independence into an escalating suburban comedy of automotive catastrophe.
- What is License to Drive like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of License to Drive as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is License to Drive violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in License to Drive as mild.
- What did critics think of License to Drive?
- Critics generally found the cast appealing and the premise suited to teenagers, but considered the comedy overly silly and increasingly predictable.
- Which films are like License to Drive?
- Films with a similar feel include Adventures in Babysitting, The Secret of My Success, and The Goonies.
- How long is License to Drive?
- License to Drive runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch License to Drive?
- In United States, License to Drive is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
