Carpool (1996 film)

Carpool
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Arthur Hiller
Produced by
Written by
Starring
Music by John Debney
Cinematography David M. Walsh
Edited by
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • August 23, 1996 (1996-08-23)
Running time
 89 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $17 million[2]
Box office $3.3 million[3]

Carpool is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Arthur Hiller, written by Mark Christopher and Don Rhymer, and starring David Paymer and Tom Arnold.

Plot

Workaholic Daniel Miller (David Paymer) is forced to drive his family carpool when his wife (Stellina Rusich) becomes ill. He is in the middle of a huge advertising campaign for Hammerman's, a large chain of delis, and initially refuses the carpool until his wife guilts him into it. It includes his two sons, Andrew and Bucky (Mikey Kovar Micah Gardener), two local girls; Chelsea (Colleen Rennison) and her older sister, Kayla (Rachael Leigh Cook), and local weirdo Travis (Jordan Blade Warkol). Meanwhile, Franklin Laszlo (Tom Arnold) is the owner of a failing carnival. He has the bright idea to rob a bank in order to get the money to keep his business going. As he leaves to attempt his bank robbery, he enters a local Hammerman's where Daniel is also at. Inside, two gunman hold it up and eventually a standoff ensues between them, an older woman, Franklin, and a local detective, Lt. Erdman (Kim Coates). Through a series of mistunderstandings, Franklin takes Daniel hostage and the money the gunmen had stolen from the deli. Heading to his car, Franklin kidnaps Daniel and the kids. The group, however, bonds through a series of misadventures; stopping at a hair salon to use the bathroom, evading the police using a disguise, and eventually being chased by a obsessed meter maid, Martha (Rhea Perlman). Franklin reveals to the group the reason behind his robbery and kidnapping: keeping his carnival open so he can see his son.

Eventually, Franklin takes the group to his carnival, where the kids enjoy the rides. However, the two gunmen have tracked Franklin through his wallet, which he had dropped in the deli, and want the money. A fight ensues, with the controls to the Ferris Wheel being damaged. Daniel uses his advertising materials to stop the ride and rescues Andrew. He realizes it's too late to attend his pitch meeting, but Franklin convinces him otherwise. He arrives late, and unprepared, but successfully pitches to Mr. Hammerman (Rod Steiger) that children don't like his chain and that a revamp to something more kid friendly would help. He likes the idea, and Daniel gains the backbone to tell him he quits. Eventually the police arrive, but Daniel does not wish to press charges, and Franklin is let off the hook.

Sometime later, Daniel and Franklin are co-owners of the carnival, with Mr. Hammerman supplying them with food. Everything seems to be okay, until Franklin realizes he missed a lunch date with his mother, who is shown destroying a local Sizzler over the closing credits.

Cast

Release

Box office

The film opened theatrically on August 23, 1996 in 1,487 venues nationwide and earned $1,628,482 in its first weekend, ranking thirteenth in the domestic box office.[4] At the end of its run, it had grossed $3,325,651.[3] Based on an estimated $17 million budget,[2] it was a box office bomb.

Critical reception

The film was panned by critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 13% score based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 2.6/10.[5] Metacritic reports a 15 out of 100 rating based on 10 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[6]

Accolades

Arnold tied with Pauly Shore for a 1996 Razzie Award in part for his role in the film as well as for Big Bully and The Stupids.

References

  1. ↑ "CARPOOL (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. September 24, 1996. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Carpool (1996) - Box office / business". Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Carpool (1996)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Weekend Box Office Results for August 23-25, 1996". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. August 26, 1996. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Carpool (1996)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Carpool reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
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