Learning to Drive 2014

Kyle Smith, New York Post: The movie putters along as softly as Wendy drives. Despite its lack of narrative horsepower, though, its character sketches are pleasing. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: As filmmaking goes, "Drive" is pretty pedestrian. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: Toothless, amiable, and bland. Read more

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: Over-simplified with a lot of emotional hand-holding, but just charismatic enough to work. Read more

Peter Keough, Boston Globe: Endearing, mordant, and impeccably acted. Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: The film also provides an interesting view into Sikh culture, illustrating in colorful detail the various rituals that inform the devout driving instructor's personal life. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Clarkson develops a push-pull rapport with Kingsley that fills in the blanks - or, rather, mitigates the script's on-the-nose tendencies. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: "Learning to Drive" is precisely the sort of adult-themed, intelligent and heartfelt film it wants to be, with Clarkson and Kingsley wonderfully on point. Read more

Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter: Low-key but overly schematic. Read more

Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times: "Learning to Drive" is a richly observed, crosscultural character study that coasts along pleasurably on the strengths of its virtuoso leads. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: As these two actors travel this road together, they create - both in the driver's-ed car and within each scene - a small, safe space where every gesture is simultaneously small and incredibly important. Read more

Mark Jenkins, NPR: The film seems to take its method entirely from Darwan's quiet, methodical patter about how to move safely across lanes and through intersections. It's good advice for driving, but less helpful for drama. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: As this movie, directed by Isabel Coixet, tracks the deepening friendship between people from different cultures and backgrounds, it acquires an unforced metaphorical resonance. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Learning to Drive is a story of companionship, loneliness, resilience. It's a small, artfully crafted thing, but it resonates in big ways. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: It's a beautifully acted tale of friendship, and about how sometimes, you just need to move forward - in a car, or otherwise. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: "Learning to Drive" offers some hit-and-miss pleasures, but may finally strike you as pedestrian. Read more

Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail: Coixet, Clarkson and Kingsley have worked together previously (in the 2008 drama Elegy), but this is the Spanish filmmaker's first crack at comedy. She passes the test, seemingly with ease. Read more

Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star: Learning to Drive may be a small movie, but it's a haunting one. Read more

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: The filmmakers' hearts might be in the right place, but the film's doesn't kick in until well after you might already have declared it dead. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: "Learning to Drive" would be an entirely inert expedition were it not for Clarkson, who plays against Kingsley's sentinel of propriety with her signature radiance and birdlike gracefulness. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Wears out its welcome, and energy, through unswerving conformity to its dramatic scheme. Read more