Movies - License to Drive

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	Movies - License to Drive

License to Drive is a 1988 teen comedy/adventure, starring Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Carol Kane, Richard Masur, Heather Graham, Michael Manasseri and Nina Siemaszko.

The screenplay was written by Neil Tolkin who based it on a failed National Lampoon article that he wrote that caught the eye of producer Jeffrey A. Mueller. The film became very popular amongst teenagers primarily because of the popularity of 'the two Coreys' at the time but also as the script was to do with a subject which a large audience could relate to.

The film was in production during the latter months of 1987. It arguably represented both Corey Haim and Corey Feldman together at the peak of their teen success in the late 1980s, the pair would eventually make seven films together. It also marked Greg Beeman's directorial debut.

It was released on July 8, 1988 in the United States and grossed over $20 million at the domestic box office. It received a PG-13 rating in the United States, PG in the United Kingdom and M in Australia. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Tagline: Some guys get all the brakes!

Production

Production began in October of 1987 and was completed in December of that same year. The production companies for the film were 20th Century Fox and Davis Entertainment. Davis Entertainment was founded in 1988 by John Davis with License to Drive being its inaugural film. On the special edition DVD's commentary track, Davis (who had previously worked on Three O'Clock High and Predator) was described as a major force in getting the film made. The film was originally to be released under the title of To Live and Drive in L.A..

Script

The script was based on a failed National Lampoon article that was written by the would be script writer for the film Neil Tolkin. The article that was written was based around how many times a teenager could produce lies. The text caught the attention of Fox producers, whom had ideas to adapt a particular part of the text to film, the text that was of a particular interest was how a teenager lied to his parents and his girlfriend after failing his driver’s license exam. Mueller believed that the idea had potential to become a film. Tolkin would later attend driver’s educational classes at high schools and adapt several personal elements to the script, most notably, characters and moments that shaped his teenage years.

The script went through major changes following an audience review of the first cut. Most notably, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) stated that the film glorified drunk driving. The film was blamed for being irresponsible as the target audience were teenagers and both Coreys were idols at the time. A lot of scenes were changed and a lot of the second half of the film was reshot to please the complaints.

Casting

Corey Haim and Corey Feldman first met in pre-production of the 1986 horror film The Lost Boys, though they had herd of each others names prior to the film, as Feldman has auditioned for Haim’s role in Lucas and Haim auditioned for Feldman’s role in The Goonies. After The Lost Boys the pair mutually agreed that it would be best to pursue individual careers rather than be known as The two Coreys, a name which had started to surface following public appearances for The Lost Boys. Feldman, after reading the script, thought that it was the right kind of film he should be doing at this point in his career, he auditioned numerous times for the role of Les during casting, as Haim was as well, though the pair were not certain whether each other were auditioning for the same role or not at the time.

The role of Les was given to Haim, upon hearing the news, Feldman was understandably upset, even considering leaving the film altogether at first sight, but accepted the role of Dean, despite playing second fiddle to Haim. Heather Graham was cast as Les' love interest, this was her major theatrical debut as she only had an uncredited role in Mrs. Soffel and a role in a small television film in 1987. One of the biggest names in the cast was Richard Masur, whom was cast as Les' father alongside Carol Kane as Les' mother.

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