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IMDbPro

License to Drive

  • 1988
  • PG-13
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
24K
YOUR RATING
Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, and Heather Graham in License to Drive (1988)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
99+ Photos
Teen ComedyComedy

A teen decides to go for a night on the town with his friends despite flunking his driver's test.A teen decides to go for a night on the town with his friends despite flunking his driver's test.A teen decides to go for a night on the town with his friends despite flunking his driver's test.

  • Director
    • Greg Beeman
  • Writer
    • Neil Tolkin
  • Stars
    • Corey Haim
    • Corey Feldman
    • Carol Kane
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    24K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Greg Beeman
    • Writer
      • Neil Tolkin
    • Stars
      • Corey Haim
      • Corey Feldman
      • Carol Kane
    • 91User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 36Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    License To Drive
    Trailer 2:24
    License To Drive

    Photos118

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    + 114
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    Top cast46

    Edit
    Corey Haim
    Corey Haim
    • Les Anderson
    Corey Feldman
    Corey Feldman
    • Dean
    Carol Kane
    Carol Kane
    • Mrs. Anderson
    Richard Masur
    Richard Masur
    • Mr. Anderson
    Heather Graham
    Heather Graham
    • Mercedes Lane
    Michael Manasseri
    Michael Manasseri
    • Charles
    Harvey Miller
    • The Professor
    Michael A. Nickles
    Michael A. Nickles
    • Paolo
    • (as M.A. Nickles)
    Nina Siemaszko
    Nina Siemaszko
    • Natalie Anderson
    Grant Goodeve
    Grant Goodeve
    • Natalie's DMV Examiner
    James Avery
    James Avery
    • Les' DMV Examiner
    Grant Heslov
    Grant Heslov
    • Karl
    Michael Ensign
    Michael Ensign
    • School Teacher…
    Helen Hanft
    Helen Hanft
    • Miss Hellberg
    Christopher Burton
    • Rudy
    Jill Jaress
    Jill Jaress
    • Dean's Mom
    Kimberly Hope
    • Dean's Sister
    Parley Baer
    Parley Baer
    • Grandpa Anderson
    • Director
      • Greg Beeman
    • Writer
      • Neil Tolkin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews91

    6.323.9K
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    Featured reviews

    7Aaron1375

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

    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.
    billybrown41

    Another 80s fave of mine.

    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.
    6vertigo_14

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

    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.
    Michael_Elliott

    Funny and Smart

    License to Drive (1988)

    *** (out of 4)

    Even though he failed his driver's test, a teen (Corey Haim) decides to steal his grandfather's Cadillac because the girl of his dreams (Heather Graham) asked him out on a date. After picking up his two best friends (Corey Feldman, Michael Manasseri) they head out for what's suppose to be a good time but they hit one disaster after another. This was one of my favorite movies before I hit 16-years-old because it was always a fun movie to watch and fantasize about what my first day out with a driver's license would be like. Watching the film now I was a little surprised to see how well it stood up and especially by how many of the jokes still pack a lot of laughs. This movie was clearly made to get the two Corey's together and they do a terrific job but the main reason for this is that the screenplay is so spot on and smart in terms of what happens. I think the screenplay perfectly builds up that teen spirit of being a dork and wanting the most beautiful girl in school. It perfectly builds up all the fun stuff that one does when they get a car. It perfectly builds up the two friend characters who are constantly want to do more and more simply because they're not the ones who own the car. The performances in the films are extremely good with Haim doing a great job with the nerd role. That shyness and laid back style of his perfectly fits this character and it's really the perfect mix for all the craziness that's going on in the movie. Feldman, to no shock, plays the wilder one and the two of them blending their styles makes it easy to see why they were so popular together. Graham isn't too bad either as she gets quite a few good scenes. Another major plus is Richard Masur and Carol Kane who play Haim's parents. They are both perfect in their roles and really add a lot of great laughs and especially Masur who pretty much steals the film with his lovable bear type performance. The soundtrack is totally 80s with The Breakfast Club doing a cover of The Beatles' "Drive My Car" and we've got Billy Ocean's smash "Get Out of My Car" and even a couple Sinatra songs added for great effect. This film isn't an Oscar-winner and it will never be confused as one. It is a great throwback to the 80s with some extremely good performances and a winning screenplay and that alone makes it worth viewing.
    brnnttebabe

    A very funny teen comedy!!!!!!!

    I absolutely loved this movie!!! it was funny and had a good plot! it stars Corey Haim as the main character with none other than Corey Feldman as his sidekick! this movie has lol! the story is about Les(Corey Haim) and he failed his driving test, which is a bad thing because he just got the date with the girl of his dreams, so he takes his grandfathers car and has the ride of his life, with some help from his friends (corey feldman). the girl ends up getting drunk and being asleep the whole time, so she doesnt know anything that has happened. one of the funnyest parts is when a drunk guy steals a bangs up the car and les' father finds out. i think everyone should rent it and watch it, its worth the money trust me!

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    Related interests

    Lacey Chabert, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried in Mean Girls (2004)
    Teen Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Neither Corey Feldman nor Corey Haim had a driver's license when filming started.
    • Goofs
      The license plate on the caddy changes from "GRANDPA" to "GRANPA" in various scenes.
    • Quotes

      Dean: Natalie! I was wondering, if you were driving 55 miles per hour and you collided with a runaway train, would it make ANY improvement on your face?

    • Alternate versions
      To receive a PG certificate, 7 seconds were cut from the original UK video version with the removal of the line "You mustn't fuck with the Department of Motor Vehicles." The line was reinstated for the 2012 UK DVD, which is rated 12.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Arthur 2: On the Rocks/Short Circuit 2/Coming to America/A Handful of Dust/License to Drive (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Drive My Car
      Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

      Produced By Stephen Bray and Michael Verdick

      Performed by The Breakfast Club

      Courtesy of MCA Records

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 6, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sin permiso para manejar
    • Filming locations
      • Johnie's Broiler - 7447 Firestone Blvd., Downey, California, USA(Archies Atomic)
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Davis Entertainment
      • Licht/Mueller Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $22,433,275
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,850,934
      • Jul 10, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $22,433,275
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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