Riding in Cars with Boys is a 2001 American biographical film based on the autobiography of the same name by Beverly Donofrio, about a woman who overcame difficulties, including being a teen mother, and who later earned a master's degree. The movie's narrative spans the years 1961 to 1985. It stars Drew Barrymore, Steve Zahn, Brittany Murphy, and James Woods. It was the last film directed by Penny Marshall. Although the film is co-produced by Beverly Donofrio, many of its details differ from the book. Plot In 1961, 11 year-old Beverly "Bev" Donofrio rides with her father, Wallingford, Connecticut police officer Leonard. She asks for a bra for Christmas to get the attention of a boy, but he tells her she is too young and to focus on books. In 1965, intelligent but naïve, Bev's dream is to go to college in New York City to become a writer. Joining her friends Fay and Tina at a party, Fay's older boyfriend, Bobby, is being deployed to Vietnam while Bev gives a love letter to popular boy, Sky. He reads it aloud, so she flees to the bathroom where she's consoled by Ray, a stranger, who defends her honor by fighting with Sky. Bev and Ray, with Fay and Bobby, flee the party and go to a lookout, where Bobby and Fay have sex. Bev is overcome by Ray's kindness, so they do too. On duty, Leonard catches and takes them to the police station, and Bev claims that they only kissed. Bev tells Ray she's pregnant and initially turns down his offer to get married but later agrees to a hasty wedding to placate her parents. At the reception, everyone is avoiding Bev, so Fay publicly announces she is also pregnant. As Fay's father wanted her to put the baby up for adoption, she and Bobby will get married instead. The girls celebrate that they will be mothers together, but lament missing out on their childhood, the prom, and an education. Bev has a son, Jason (upsetting her, as she wanted a girl), while Fay has daughter Amelia. Bev continues studying. When Jason is three, her interview for a college scholarship goes badly when she has to take Jason along. Although the interviewer praises her writing, he fears she is too distracted. Later, Fay reveals that she and Bobby are getting divorced as he met someone else. Bev tells her