0
0
Rating: 4 out of 5
Driving Miss Daisy is a cute and wholesome film that many people will enjoy while a few might feel it is outdated. One thing is for sure with this film, you will see the genuine growth of a friendship between two people that might seem from the opposite end of the spectrum but realize that they are more alike than ever. It is a film that shows the growth of a genuine friendship after 25 years and some of the highest levels of patience a person has ever done. It is a film that shows the friendship of Miss Daisy Werthan and her chauffeur Hoke Colbur.
The film starts in 1948 sometime in the summer with the introduction of Daisy Werthan (Tandy). Daisy is a wealthy, sassy independent, speaks her mind 72-year-old Jewish widow, who was a former grade school teacher. Daisey takes tremendous pride in being a grade school teacher. One day, Daisy accidentally backs her new Chrysler into her neighbor’s yard by pushing the accelerator a little too hard. Maybe backs her car is the wrong statement. Homegirl drove it off a mini cliff. Somehow that big tank of a vehicle is totaled. Her 35-year-old son, Boolie (Aykroyd), is a successful third-generation textile business owner. He tries to talk sense in his mama by saying the insurance company declares her a high risk. NO S**T! Daisy being her independent self, refuses all help and the idea of a driver while telling her son that she will manage. Boolie has other plans.
One day in the textile mill, one of Boolie’s employees is stuck in a freight elevator. While trying to figure out how to make the elevator work, Hoke Coleburn (Freeman) shuffles in and helps with fixing the elevator. Hoke is around 60-years old and has had more jobs than anyone can count. Boolie sees that Hoke can be very useful and offers him the job of being his mama’s driver. Boolie states that his mama is very stubborn, uptight, and usually doesn’t get along with people she really doesn’t know. He assured him that he is the only one that can fire him. Boolie brings Hoke over to meet his mama, along with a brand-new car that sits in the garage. Daisey is very cold and refuses to be introduced to Hoke, but little do they realize that this is the start of a 25-year friendship with many ups and downs.
Driving Miss Daisy is a delightful and simple movie. The story is pretty easy to follow, with no twists turns. What is nice about this film is you see two people from different worlds become the best of friends. When you spend 25 years together, you gotta start like the person sooner or later. Yet, in the beginning, Daisy wanted nothing to do with Hoke. This woman stated she was going to walk all the way to the grocery store than jump in a car with him. It was only when that Hoke drove next to her, and sensing she was being embarrassed that she hopped in the car. What was funny about this whole scene after she jumped in the car????? She became a back-seat driver saying Hoke was speeding when he was going almost 20 mph UNDER the speed limit. Reminded me so much of my grandma.
Another scene that reminded me of my grandma was the whole missing food incident. That was hilarious. Daisy complained to her son about EVERYTHING in the beginning. When she thought she found a way to get rid of Hoke, it completely backfired on her. What was her grand idea and something that my grand man would do? She counted all the food in the house, and when she found a missing salmon can, she flipped out. Boolie’s reaction was priceless because she would’ve given her the 45 cents. When Hoke came in, he stated he took the can and then bought her a new one. Once again, this is something my grandma would do. My grandma’s statement would’ve been, “I grew up in the depression.” Old people can be cute sometimes.
Where the story is so moving is when the actual friendship grows. This is shown when Daisy and Hoke are in the cemetery. Daisy tells Hoke to place some flowers at a specific grave. Hoke looks around and doesn’t know where to go because he can’t read. To be in your 60s and can’t read is a terrible thing. Yet, the school teacher in Daisy helps Hoke figure out how to find the grave and during Christmas gives him a gift for reading and writing lessons. Now that is so sweet.
The adventures together continue with some more ups but also down. Those downs come with the idea of race, and one begins clueless to specific issues until it actually happens. This is shown when Daisy’s local synagogue is attacked, she realizes that she is prejudice against like when the Klan attacks black churches. Another way was when she had an extra ticket to go see Martin Luther King Jr. speak, Hoke drives her. Still, it was only until the last minute that she offered it to him as it never occurred to her to invite him inside. She states that “Things have changed” as she sees things changing in the south. Hoke response with that they haven’t changed much.
Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman are a pleasure to watch in this film. Tandy as Daisy was something else. She reminded you of that grandma, who is beyond sassy, speaks her mind, and is extremely independent. Tandy made the role her own, and it was nice to see how she just evolved even in the old age.
What more can you say about Morgan Freeman? One of the best actors in the world. He is a pleasure to watch in this film also. What you should love about this character is that he keeps his word when talking to other people by always saying, “that is a conversation between him and me.” Freeman showed that Hoke can be friends with anyone, especially an old and sassy woman.
Driving Miss Daisy is a sweet movie. Not the greatest Best Picture winner but one that has plenty of laughs and good times with the two characters. Tandy and Freeman are quite exceptional in this film as their chemistry are one to watch.
