License to Drive: Corey Haim, Drunk Driving, and Peak '80s Nonsense

Okay, so I finally got around to revisiting License to Drive (1988). I know, I know, I'm all director-this-and-auteur-that, but sometimes you just gotta cleanse the palate with some pure, unadulterated '80s cheese. Honestly, I mostly wanted to see Corey Haim at the height of his powers, because let's be real, he was a freaking star. The premise is ridiculous, obviously. Dude fails his driving test but steals his grandpa's Cadillac anyway? Come on. But that's the charm, right? There are definitely some moments cringe. The drunk driving plotline, even for the era, feels a bit... irresponsible? Especially now. But I can't deny I laughed when Dean got covered in trash at the dump. Simple pleasures, people. The whole thing feels like a fever dream of teenage wish fulfillment. I felt a bit bad for Carol Kane though, her character was just kinda... there. And, okay, maybe it's nostalgia talking, but the soundtrack is killer. Ultimately, License to Drive isn't a good movie in the traditional sense of amazing direction or groundbreaking story. It's a time capsule. It's peak '80s teen cinema. It's Corey Haim being adorable and trying to juggle a date with Heather Graham after failing his freaking driving test. Did I enjoy it? Yeah, I did. Would I recommend it to everyone? Nah. But if you're in the mood for some mindless fun and neon-soaked nostalgia, you could do worse. P.S. Anyone know who actually DIRECTED this? IMDb just says it's a Greg Beeman, but I'm not familiar with him. Maybe he's got some hidden gems I need to add to my list?