‘Carpool’ May Drive You To Distraction
Tom Arnold’s star turn in “Carpool” is enough to explain why this comedy opened without benefit of advance screenings.
Wide-eyed and mirthlessly peppy, Arnold soon wears out his welcome as a bumbling would-be bank robber who commandeers a group of young hostages.
The children and Arnold compete madly for the honor of being most adorable person in the hijacked minivan. But it’s a contest nobody wins.
As directed by Arthur Hiller, who knows better, and written by Don Rhymer, “Carpool” also involves an overworked advertising executive who uncharacteristically happens to be driving the children to school when they are all waylaid by Arnold.
David Paymer, looking understandably chagrined, is the film’s main asset as its straight man, the harried Dad.
“All you have to do is drive them to school,” the ad man’s wife tells him as the film begins, delivering one of the film’s rare funny lines. “Fifteen, 20 minutes, tops. I’m not asking you to raise them as your own.”
Once the car pool is hijacked, the music blares overbearingly, and the story heads for romp-worthy sets like a shopping mall, where the van proves it can barrel up a flight of stairs. (The film trumpets the talents of its heavily plugged Toyota.)
But if you suppose that the van’s various exploits don’t amount to much of a plot, you’re right.
So the film also creates chances for both the hijacker and the ad man to rediscover the importance of parenting and learn how to have fun. Special bonus: The hijacker runs a nearly-defunct carnival and lets the children magically frolic on carnival rides.
Rhea Perlman has a few enjoyable moments in the throwaway role of a meter maid chasing the runaways.
Among the other supporting characters, possibly meant to seem extra funny in light of Arnold’s presence here, is the large, bellowing, foul-mouthed woman who is identified as his mother.
xxxx “Carpool” Locations: Lincoln Heights, North Division cinemas Credits: Directed by Arthur Hiller; starring Tom Arnold, David Paymer, Rhea Perlman, Rachael Leigh Cook, Rod Steiger Running time: 1:45 Rating: PG