Review: LEARNING TO DRIVE

By Renee’ Collins

Rating: 4.5 (Out of 5 Reels)

As Wendy’s (Patricia Clarkson) marriage dissolves, a Manhattan writer takes driving lessons from a Sikh instructor, Darwan (Ben Kingsley) with marriage troubles of his own.  In each other’s company they find the courage to get back on the road and the strength to take the wheel (IMDB).

Clarkson and Kingsley are perfectly cast in their roles which becomes immediately evident because of the excellently written character development.  From the beginning the viewer is drawn into the plight of each main character.  In the past it was disappointing to see these types of films that depict various stages of the ending and beginning of marriages because they dwell too much on the devastating aspects.  Don’t get me wrong we do see it here but it is not dwelt on too much because it is acknowledged and then they move on.

We also see Merryl Streep’s daughter Grace Gummer as Tasha.  Having seen her in a few roles lately one can only admire her determination to follow in her mother’s enormous foot steps to become an actor because it cannot be an easy road for her but her performances have been well done so far.

This film is just an absolutely fantastically written and acted film that should not be missed.

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