Carpool (1996)

A man with an important business meeting finds himself having to take care of the carpool for the neighborhood school children when his wife gets sick. Stopping to get donuts for the kids, ... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writer:

Don Rhymer

Stars:

Tom Arnold, David Paymer, Rhea Perlman

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Arnold	...	Franklin Laszlo
David Paymer	...	Daniel Miller
Rhea Perlman	...	Martha
Rod Steiger	...	Mr. Hammerman
Kim Coates	...	Detective Erdman
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Kayla
Mikey Kovar	...	Andrew Miller
Micah Gardener	...	Bucky Miller
Jordan Warkol	...	Travis (as Jordan Blake Warkol)
Colleen Rennison	...	Chelsea
Ian Tracey	...	Neil
John Tench	...	Jerry
Stellina Rusich	...	Mrs. Miller
David Kaye	...	Scott Lewis
Obba Babatundé	...	Jeffery (as Obba Babatundè)

Storyline

A man with an important business meeting finds himself having to take care of the carpool for the neighborhood school children when his wife gets sick. Stopping to get donuts for the kids, things go even more awry when he finds himself a victim of a robbery. However, the situation only gets worse as a desperate man who had been contemplating a bank robbery robs the robbers and takes the man and the kids hostage in their van as his truck is blocked by an armored car. The thing then proceeds into a comedic chase movie. The father finds his kids don't really respect him and they react better to the robber. The end result is everyone gets a lifestyle change, including the original store owner.

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Plot Keywords:

robbery | chase | lifting person in air | table | slow motion | 

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Taglines:

A dad in a hurry. A man on the run. And five kids with an attitude.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for crude humor, mild language and comic action

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

A spasso col rapinatore

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,628,482 (USA) (23 August 1996)

Gross:

$3,308,758 (USA) (6 September 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises, Monarchy Enterprises B.V., Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Theatrically released with Superior Duck as the preceding cartoon.

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Goofs

After the confrontation with the meter maid in the mall, Franklin chases down the van, climbs in, gets into the front passenger seat and fastens his seatbelt. After they drive up to the second floor, Daniel says, "Fasten your seatbelts" and Franklin is shown fastening his seatbelt again.

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Quotes

Old Lady: What adorable children.
Daniel: You want'em? 'Cause I'll sell them to you real cheap.

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Connections

References The A-Team (1983)

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Soundtracks

"I WANNA BE SEDATED"
Written by Dee Dee Ramone (as Douglas Colvin), Johnny Ramone (as John Cummings),
Joey Ramone (as Jeff Hyman)
Performed by Ramones (as The Ramones)
Courtesy of Sire Records by arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Definitely not high-octane entertainment but not bad, either

Daniel (David Paymer) is a businessman who works long hours. One morning, his wife gets the flu, leaving him responsible for getting his children dressed, fed, and dropped off at school. He fumes about this, for he has an all-important meeting at ll:00 am. Nevertheless, he piles his two boys, along with three neighbor kids (its Dan's turn to be the carpool driver) into the van and stops for doughnuts for everyone to have a "good" breakfast. Trouble is, at the bakery, there is a hold-up, with Franklin (Tom Arnold) taking the money and taking Daniel hostage, too, to complete a getaway. Franklin is really a nice man but his failing carnival show necessitated the immediate need for funds. Daniel is aghast for he still has his meeting looming on the horizon. After having the kids spray-paint the van purple, to allude authorities, Daniel, Franklin, and the kiddies drive around and around. Will they be caught? And, why does Daniel's children like Franklin better than they like their own father? This movie has a good concept that is, unfortunately, not matched by the film's ultimate execution. The idea that a robber would end up in a mundane carpool routine is infectious but the film's plot line runs thin, at times. Nevertheless, Paymer is a good performer, as is Arnold, who always garners smiles. The children are lively and fun, as well, and the movie's costumes, scenery, and photography make for a good-looking film. To be brief, families will probably enjoy a showing of this flick, for it has humor, chase-scenes, car crashes, and other attention-getting devices. But, it is doubtful that anyone will ask for a repeat showing.