Driver’s Ed — a road-trip teen comedy that’s equal parts silliness and heart (≈1,500 words).
There’s something evergreen about the teen-road-trip comedy: squeeze a group of earnest, half-terrified teenagers into an ill-advised vehicle, give them a mission (win back a love, outrun an awkward adult, get to prom), and watch character and chaos collide. Driver’s Ed, directed by Bobby Farrelly and written by Thomas Moffett, leans into that tradition with a contemporary, amiable twist — a lovelorn high-school senior, a stolen driver-ed car, and a motley crew determined to reunite him with his college-freshman girlfriend. It’s a throwback in tone but updated with a cast that mixes rising young talent and established comic actors. The film made its festival rounds in 2025 and has generated mixed but generally cordial reviews: a pleasant, if relatively lightweight, entry in the modern teen comedy canon.
What the movie is (short version).
At its most basic, Driver’s Ed is a road-trip teen comedy about Jeremy, a high-school senior who borrows his school’s driver-education car (without permission) and, with friends in tow, sets out to track down his girlfriend — now a freshman at college — in hopes of winning her back. Expect sitcom-level hijinks, campus detours, awkward parental encounters, and that bittersweet undertow that comes when people on the cusp of adulthood are forced to grow up by the very things they do to avoid it. The film is directed by Bobby Farrelly and stars Sam Nivola as Jeremy, supported by Sophie Telegadis, Mohana Krishnan, Aidan Laprete, Molly Shannon and Kumail Nanjiani among others.
Cast — how many and who are the principals?
If you’re asking “how many cast members does this movie have?”, it depends on whether you mean principal credited players or every single credited extra. The principal ensemble (the actors who carry the story) includes:
- Sam Nivola as Jeremy (the lovelorn senior and protagonist).
- Sophie Telegadis as Evie (one of the teen leads).
- Mohana Krishnan as Aparna.
- Aidan Laprete as Yoshi.
- Molly Shannon as Principal Fisher (an adult, authority figure).
- Kumail Nanjiani as Mr. Rivers (another adult presence who helps color the film).
- Lilah Pate as Samantha (the college freshman girlfriend).
- Alyssa Milano, Ella Stiller, and a handful of smaller supporting players and cameos round out the credits.
The full credited cast (principals + supporting players + smaller roles) runs into dozens once you include every named extra and bit player; full cast listings on IMDb show the extended roster. But the movie’s narrative is carried by a core group of roughly eight to twelve principal performers.
Who is the main character?
The emotional and narrative axis of Driver’s Ed is Jeremy (Sam Nivola). The plot is built around his singular motivation — to reunite with Samantha, his college-freshman girlfriend — and the choices he makes (stealing the driver-ed car being the central, foolish one). That said, the film is ensemble-minded: his friends (Evie, Aparna, Yoshi) each have distinct personalities and comic beats, and the adult characters (Molly Shannon’s Principal Fisher and Kumail Nanjiani’s Mr. Rivers) provide both obstacles and comic texture. But Jeremy is the means-character, the lens through which the audience experiences the folly, stakes, and eventual emotional payoff.
Box office / “box collection” — what the film made.
As of the latest publicly available reports (following the film’s TIFF premiere in September 2025), Driver’s Ed has been covered primarily as a festival title; major box-office aggregators and trade outlets reported on its premiere and reviews but full theatrical gross numbers were not universally published at the time of those reports. Festival screenings and early reviews indicate distributor interest and a festival run, but large-scale box-office tallies typically appear only after a broader theatrical window. In short: there isn’t a definitive public “box-collection” figure available yet in the sources I checked; festival coverage and reviews dominate the reporting so far. If you want exact grosses once the theatrical run completes, box-office trackers like Box Office Mojo and The Numbers would be the place to consult.
Genre and niche — who will like this film?
Driver’s Ed sits squarely in the teen road-trip comedy niche with a contemporary sensibility:
- Tone: goofy, light-hearted, occasionally nostalgic — a modern homage to the teen comedies of the ’80s and ’90s, but with a softer R-rated edge and modern sensibilities.
- Audience: high-school and college-age viewers who enjoy buddy comedies, road trips, and embarrassing-but-heartfelt antics; also adults who like gentle nostalgia for adolescent misadventures and who appreciate comic actors like Molly Shannon and Kumail Nanjiani.
- Comparable films: think Superbad’s awkward earnestness trimmed with Farrelly’s own legacy of low-brow, broad comedy — though reviewers note Driver’s Ed is generally gentler and less mean-spirited than some classic Farrelly fare.
What makes the film distinct within its niche is its specific plot device (a driver-education car as the vehicle — literal and figurative — for adolescent rebellion) and a central protagonist who’s acting from romantic desperation rather than pure mischief. It’s a character motivation that keeps the comedy tethered to a sincere emotional throughline.
Deep details — story, themes, tone, and execution.
Story (no major spoilers)
Jeremy is a love-struck senior whose girlfriend Samantha has left for college. Convinced that a dramatic gesture will win her back, he and his friends borrow the school’s driver-ed vehicle and set out on a mini-odyssey to find her. The road trip is a series of escalating practical problems (mechanical trouble, near-misses with authority figures, unexpected detours) and personal tests (arguments, confessions, moments of fear) that force each character to reckon with what they want and who they’re becoming. Adult figures (a beleaguered principal, an exasperated parent, a well-meaning teacher) complicate the teenagers’ plan and provide comic counterpoints. The Driver’s Ed film culminates less in a blockbuster showdown and more in small, revealing moments where decisions — romantic and ethical — have real consequences.
Themes
- Growing up via misadventure. The central conceit is that reckless choice can be an engine of growth; the stolen car is both a literal transgression and a symbolic “license” to learn.
- Romantic idealism vs. practicality. Jeremy’s grand gesture runs headlong into the reality of adult life — college schedules, new circles, and the messy logistics of relationships.
- Friendship and loyalty. The road trip tests friendships: loyalties are revealed, differences are exposed, and characters either mature or reveal their limitations.
- Authority and consequence. With Molly Shannon’s Principal Fisher and Kumail Nanjiani’s Mr. Rivers in the mix, the film has fun with school authority while still letting consequences land in believable ways.
Direction and performances
Bobby Farrelly’s direction leans into physical comedy and situational chaos, but several reviewers pointed out that Driver’s Ed is tamer and more nostalgic than some of his earlier, broader comedies. Sam Nivola anchors the film with a sympathetic, earnest performance — crucial, since the central plot hinges on whether the audience can root for Jeremy despite his poor judgment. The supporting teens give the movie energy and texture; Molly Shannon and Kumail Nanjiani add comic gravitas as adult foils. Reviews praised the likability of the cast while also noting the film’s overall predictability.
Tone and pacing
The film is brisk (reported runtime around 98 minutes) and designed for a light theatrical watch: punchy beats, quick transitions from gag to gag, and a final act that prioritizes emotional clarity over wild spectacle. If you’re seeking a heavy, thought-provoking drama, this isn’t it — but if you want a warm, sometimes silly, occasionally tender movie to watch with friends, it fits the bill.
Strengths and caveats
Strengths: likeable cast, a premise that immediately sets stakes (a stolen car, a love quest), moments of genuine warmth and charm, and a contemporary sensibility that avoids feeling entirely retro.
Caveats: critics note the film’s predictability and occasional leaning on genre tropes; its emotional stakes are modest rather than epic. Variety and IndieWire described it as amiable but not deeply original.
Final take.
Driver’s Ed is not aiming to reinvent the teen comedy — it’s trying to give the familiar formula a warm repaint, with a cast that can sell both the slapstick and the sweetness. If you appreciate small, crowd-pleasing comedies with a heart and like the idea of a modern-day, gentler Farrelly road trip, this film will likely deliver what you want: laughs, awkward growth spurts, and the comfort of a story that wraps itself in a neat, humane bow. If you crave high concept surprises or razor-sharp satire, the film may feel lightweight. Either way, it’s a pleasant reminder that sometimes the clumsiest adventures teach us the most.
