Bobby Farrelly's latest comedy, Driver's Ed, is a disappointing return to the director's earlier work, which once dominated the box office with its raucous and memorable comedies. The film, aimed at Gen Z, fails to capture the essence of Farrelly's previous successes, instead delivering a bland and unengaging road trip comedy. The story follows a group of high school seniors who, in a desperate attempt to win back a lovesick senior's girlfriend, embark on a series of chaotic adventures in a stolen driver's education car. However, the plot's lack of substance and the characters' uninspiring arcs leave audiences feeling underwhelmed.
One of the main issues with Driver's Ed is its weak writing and nonsensical script. The film relies heavily on teen comedy cliches, which, while familiar, fail to evoke the same level of laughter or engagement as Farrelly's earlier works. The characters, particularly the main quartet, lack depth and fail to evoke any strong emotional connection. Sam Nivola, playing the nebbish Jeremy, comes across as bland and uninteresting, with his single-minded belief in love feeling forced and irrelevant to the overall narrative.
The film's attempt to capture the contemporary slang and culture of Gen Z falls flat, with the dialogue feeling inauthentic and forced. The use of modern phrases and slang, while attempting to resonate with the target audience, only highlights the disconnect between the film's content and the intended demographic. The opening titles and credits, which look cheaper than standard, further contribute to the overall sense of unfinished and unpolished work.
Despite the presence of recognized actors like Molly Shannon and Kumail Nanjiani, their characters exist mostly to pad the running time, offering minimal character development. The film's lack of stakes and consequences is a significant drawback, as the characters' actions and decisions feel inconsequential. The audience is left with a string of events that are more disturbing than funny, with the teens' struggles to give up their cell phones and their involvement in a robbery adding an air of unease rather than humor.
In my opinion, Driver's Ed is a missed opportunity for Bobby Farrelly to recapture the charm and success of his earlier collaborations with his brother. The film's failure to engage and entertain, coupled with its weak writing and uninspiring characters, makes it a disappointment. While it may appeal to a younger audience, it fails to leave a lasting impression, marking it as one of the director's weaker efforts.
