Sly and Crafty Comeback

Rating: 7/10 (30 April 2001)

Sylvester Stallone's action movie return in Renny Harlin's "Driven" marks a distinction change in the star's role. Stallone's Joe Tanto is a racing driver sensei, mentor, who was a great driver, drawn out of retirement to coach a young and very talented race car driver, Jimmy Blye (played by Kip Pardue). Tanto coaches Blye on racing and... life. Perhaps, this is trite. Though this seems like a genuine effort from Stallone to phase out the lead action hero part, and take on being the sage adviser to the young action studs like, Kip Pardue and and Til Schweiger. To his credit Sly is very comfortable and convincing in this persona. His script is clunky and very melodramatic with such dialog exchanges between himself and Pardue, "You don't know who you are?" Excellent question, though like some of the other pieces it seems out of place in this movie. The story is predictable. However, Renny Harlin's direction and visual mastery of the racing sequences keep the movie going, and for the most part engaging. Kip Pardue (last seen in "Remember the Titans") is good here. Too bad his character does not have much say. It's amazing the women's roles are so forgettable. Stacy Edwards is interesting as Stallone's love interest which seems like an after thought. Why are Gina Gershon and Estella Warren in the movie? Gershon is wasted here-- she is a good actress. On the other hand, Estelle Warren is a waste of time here.