Review: Driven, starring Adam Driver
A Clever Concept Driven Too Far
Driven is an interesting concept movie, at least on paper. Adam Driver stars as himself, and the story clearly intends to be an unflinching look at how the film industry grinds up its brightest stars. What could be a somber autobiopic, however, is given a "This is the End" treatment when an obsessive fan, Olivia--clearly a gender-swapped John Oliver--replaces Driver's chauffeur, kidnaps him, and leads half of Hollywood on a wild car chase through the streets.
The film is, mostly, a resounding "okay." Alas, Driver's attempts to write a cracking action film with snappy dialogue veers too often into broad, unfunny punchlines: a director who utterly delights in his predicament and scrambles to replace him with Ben Affleck; a running gag involving a rogue craft services bus; and a bizarre mob plot that forces the now-heroic Driver to team up with his erstwhile kidnapper to save the day. All of this culminates in a literal and figurative 50-car pileup of plots that left me more confused than satisfied.
Driver would have been better off picking a lane: angsty biopic or action joyride. Instead he tries to have it both ways, and drives a carload of potential straight off a cliff.
2/5 Stars