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DriverX is a drama about a stay-at-home middle-aged dad who must drive for an Uber-like rideshare company to help support his working wife and two young daughters.
From the Twin Cities Film Festival — DriverX was written and directed by Henry Barrial and it stars Patrick Fabian as Leonard Moore, a husband and a father who takes a job as a driver for an Uber-like company in order to make more money. As the nights go on and the more he becomes accustomed to this lifestyle, Leonard’s seemingly perfect life with his kids and wife (Tanya Clark) begins to take their toil in this very good dramedy.
In the story, Leonard was a manager of a record store that had to shut down because no one was buying vinyl anymore. This seems a bit odd because I am seeing this format pop up everywhere. But in this story, no one is buying it and now Leonard has to move on and decide how to provide for his family. He takes a job interview at a social media company where the place looks more like a daycare than an actual business. It is at this moment that he begins to understand that he is doesn’t quite fit in with this new generation. This frustration grows with him a bit further when his entire record collection is sold for very little money than what he expected. This section reminded me of something my own father had to do in order to help support us when I was younger. Sometimes you gotta do things you don’t like for the ones you love.
As Leonard begins driving and interacting with his passengers, he becomes very intrigued by the fast paced nightlife style. Cool guys with beanie style hats are making him mix CD’s and beautiful woman are basically offering sex to him. He becomes so invested into this new job that at times he would rather be driving than spend time with his wife or his kids. For Leonard, working with DriverX makes him feel young again. He enjoys very much being able to play in the sandbox, knowing full well that he should not be in there. I don’t know if readers will understand the whole sandbox scenario, but I’ll move on.
This is a movie where the lead character is both the protagonist and the antagonist. He’s the hero because he is doing whatever it takes to provide for his family and he’s the villain because he lets the job somewhat get in the way of his family’s life. If you are expecting a story where our lead guy has to go against DriverX who turns out to be all evil than this will disappoint you. Although in one moment it does tease the plot could go there. I for one actually liked it when the movie does skewer expectations of where certain elements should lead.
In one scene, Leonard’s passenger is a very sexy blonde (Katie Keene), who throughout the ride is telling him that she broke up with her boyfriend, and that she is very drunk. She is literally leaning over and purposely showing cleavage to entice him to come up to her place. But he never does. I feel that in most movies, whenever anyone is being offered sex, even if said person is in a relationship, that person when giving the opportunity, to have sex with a hot stranger will take the opportunity. However, Leonard never does and we are not sure if it’s because he loves his wife or was more because he was a deer caught in headlights.
Patrick Fabian is excellent Leonard, a man who for the most part who does try his best to do the right things for his family. But he is also a man who also wants to do right for himself. I feel that is the constant battle most people face. How to be a good person to the ones you love. While also not striping away the things that made you who you are. Leonard’s journey in balancing both sides of being both a husband/father and DriverX is what makes this a compelling movie.