Double Parked (2000) User Reviews

Pretty good, inspiring

[vchimpanzee · 23 June 2005]

Rita and her husband Warren have a son Matt. One day a woman shows up claiming that Warren is the father of her son. Warren reacts violently.

10 years later Rita is a determined single mother trying to make her life better, but she is still just a waitress, and her son has cystic fibrosis, which doesn't exactly help him make friends. Matt meets a new friend Bret who wants Matt to do his homework for him. Bret also breaks into parking meters and uses drugs supplied by his friend DiDonna.

Callie Thomas does a capable job as Rita, making us like this character who just wants a better life for herself and her son, and can't seem to get a break despite a lot of determination. The real bright spot in this movie, though, is Eileen Galindo, as an obnoxious applicant for one of the jobs Rita wants. The boys do good jobs in their roles, and Cassandra Morris somehow makes DiDonna seem like a good kid.

It's not a classic, but this is a pleasant enough and inspiring movie.

Tow this one away.

[=G= · 4/10 · 15 April 2002]

Thorne and company turn in decent performances in this lackluster flick about the vicissitudes of a working mom trying to carve out a future for herself and her son as her past catches up with her. Not homogenous, "Double Parked" has its moments but when taken as a whole only manages a couple of token stars for effort. It takes on important issues, doesn't do them justice, and then suddenly wraps itself up with an unsatisfying conclusion as though running out of time or money. Marginal material only for hard up couch potatoes.

Surprisingly good.

[BrettErikJohnson · 8/10 · 14 May 2002]

I've always liked the idea of independent filmmaking. So many of the mega-corporate blockbusters constantly filling movie screens are such junk. The only problem is that a lot of independent movies are quite poor. They may have their heart in the right place but something always seems to ruin the movie. Inexperienced actors, poor direction, too tight of a budget.

Well, "Double Parked" is a wonderful surprise. It grabs you with characters who you really care about. Callie Thorne (Next Stop Wonderland) plays Rita, a single mother of one. Her son, Matt, is played by Rufus Read (Happiness). Matt's a good kid who is befriended by another student named Bret, played by Noah Fleiss (Joe The King).

Ten years ago, Rita escaped a violent relationship with Matt's father. Life's currently a bit of a struggle but things are going along okay. As it turns out, Matt's new friend Bret is actually also the son of Matt's father. They're half brothers. Matt is unaware of this and spends a lot of time at Bret's house. Bret is a petty criminal and drug user and he ends up slowly dragging Matt into his life on the edge. If it sounds like this might turn out to be a boring melodrama, it isn't.

I was amazed at how well the script was written. It's so painful watching a film where teens say things that they would never say in a million years. Stephen Kinsella doesn't encounter that problem. He presents to us a rather realistic world that some kids live in. It's chilling to see how abused kids such as Bret have very little morality. By the same token, however, the viewer never has any distaste for his character. Bret is believably presented to us as someone who is still good on a certain level and is only engaged in destructive behavior as a way of lashing out in anger.

The casting of this film is flawless. In addition to the three main actors, we are also treated to a couple of wonderful supporting performances. Eileen Gonzalez is priceless as Dolores, a co-worker of Rita's. She is given all of the funny lines in the film and she delivers them with style. Bret's girlfriend, DiDonna, is played by Cassandra Morris. I am saddened to see that this is her only acting credit. Cassandra makes her role as a teenaged criminal mastermind and drug pusher look effortless. She's so casual that it doesn't even look as if she is acting.

If you like a good independent film, or any good film for that matter, than check out "Double Parked". This is the type of movie that Hollywood should be producing more of. 8/10

A really good movie.

[brandies73 · 8/10 · 14 September 2002]

I happened on this movie by accident. It was a really good movie and I would suggest you see it if you have a chance. I had never heard of the movie but once I started watching it I could not stop. The acting was good and the movie premiss was really good. Thumbs up movie!