Meatballs. Caddyshack. Stripes. Police Academy. Revenge of the Nerds. Summer School. Remember the classic modern comedies when misfits banded together and triumphed over the Establishment? My approach to Driver’s Ed is to create a throwback ensemble comedy, reminiscent of my favorite ‘80s laughers, while employing a contemporary and original visual touch.

Driver’s Ed mixes outlandish physical gags with more understated humor, both of which serve the movie’s more sincere emotional moments. Like every good comedy, the true laughs come from the colorful characters, and their personalities are a balance of subtlety and eccentricity. Dimwitted but loveable Ed has been a loser — literally — his whole life. He takes comfort in knowing that despite his shortcomings, he’ll eventually inherit the family business. When this inevitability is shattered and he has no choice other than to challenge flawless Spencer for the first time, Ed’s journey leads him on a winding road toward destinations previously unknown to him: self-esteem, courage, and triumph. Initially hesitant, Ed is passive and defensive both verbally and physically. He fears asking out Liza and surrenders to Spencer’s competitive, aggressive approach toward their mutual love interest. But as Ed becomes increasingly self-assured, his posture and energy change, until he actually develops a hint of swagger. He learns to trust his instincts and most of all, his leadership abilities.