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 | table | meter maid | slow motion scene | 

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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

Det. Lt. Erdman takes a car from an old woman. She says the brakes are shot and he is seen not being able to stop. When the two marked police cars first collide, Det. Lt. Erdman backs up, stops, and drives forward.

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Quotes

Franklin: [on his way to the bank, contemplating his robbery plan] This will go smooth. Unless they shoot me, which they won't because I'm gonna draw first. Of course they could push that button under the counter, but I know it's gonna be fine.
[Parks and approaches bank. The doors are locked and standing inside is a guard]
Franklin: Oh hey, buddy, I need you to open a safe for me. I mean an account, a safe account. But I see you're not open right now so I'll go grab a cup of coffee and come back later.

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Connections

Referenced in Space Ghost Coast to Coast: Joshua (1998)

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Soundtracks

"TELL MAMA"
Written by Clarence Carter, Wilbur Terrell (as Wilbur Terell), Marcus Daniel
Performed by Mersh Bros. Band

User Reviews

It's the David Paymer show!

There are three reasons to see "Carpool": David Paymer, David Paymer, and David Paymer. The character actor best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Billy Crystal's brother in "Mr. Saturday Night" is easily the best thing in this otherwise mediocre comedy. The movie gets off to a good start. Paymer plays a workaholic dad who has to make a big presentation at work. But his big day gets off to a bad start when (while in a hurry to get to work) his wife complains that she's sick and forces him to take her place in the carpool. So he, along with his own two sons, picks up three kids, and it's off to school. Right from the getgo Paymer looks like he's going through alot of stress as he has no choice but to put up with the five rambunctious kids. But then things take an unexpected turn. Paymer stops off at a place known as a gourmet market to get some food for the kids to eat on the way to school. Then a goofy carnival owner played by Tom Arnold comes in, botches a hold-up, and in the process takes Paymer hostage. When they try to leave, Arnold's truck is blocked in by another vehicle. So what else is he to do? Simple. He uses Paymer's van with the kids in it to get away which begins a long chase all day long. And the movie goes somewhat downhill from there, but it doesn't go downhill disasterously. This is one silly movie. Arnold was very good in sidekick roles in "True Lies" and "Nine Months", but he hasn't been as effective in leading roles. In "Carpool" he's O.K., but better than he was in "Big Bully", "The Stupids", and "McHale's Navy". "Cheers'" Rhea Perlman turns up halfway through the movie as a meter maid who joins in on the chase. Her character is basically a cartoon, and she deserved better. And what on earth is Rod Steiger doing in this movie? The Oscar-winning actor comes in for a bit part that is totally pointless. The five young actors who play the carpooled kids (which includes Rachael Leigh Cook from "She's All That") range from likable to totally annoying. Still, the thing I liked the most about "Carpool" is David Paymer. He's naturally funny everytime he's on screen. Also, another funny element in the film is the voice of Kathleen Freeman as Arnold's insane mother. The weirdest thing about this character is that you never see her face, and the character is voiced not only by Freeman, but two other actresses as well (Edie McClurg and Miriam Flynn). Why didn't the filmmakers just have Freeman do the entire voiceover of this character? Why does this character have to have three different voices? That doesn't make sense. Freeman's voice is easily the funniest because it comes from a terrific veteran actress. "Carpool" is an average comedy with some laughs from time to time and a hilarious performance by Paymer, but it's all too silly.

**1/2 (out of four)