'Joy Ride' A Review

Joy Ride is a comedy about Audrey(Ashley Park) and Lolo(Sherry Cola), two childhood friends that bonded over being the only two Asian kids in their small suburban Seattle community. In the present Audrey is an ambitious lawyer and Lolo is a slacker artist. As part of a business deal Audrey goes to China and brings Lolo along. Lolo's tagalong cousin Deadeye(Sabrina Wu) comes too and when they get to China the foursome is completed by Audrey's college friend and actor Kat(Stephanie Hsu). As the friends attempt to help Audrey close the deal and make contact with her birth mother hijinks ensue.

Park is saddled with the least amount of comedy and the most plot and its a bit of a struggle. She's a fine actor and gives a compelling performance but some of the emotional beats feel forced and incongruous with the broad, live-wire comedic set pieces which seem to be where the film's heart really is. The rest of the cast is excellent and much more comfortable in their characters and given more space to play. Cola, Hsu, and Wu all carveout really fun, funny, interesting characters with laughs and heart. The supporting cast is really talented but outside the core four everyone else functions basically as cameos- a perfect Daniel Dae Kim makes a brief appearance, Ronny Chieng as the businessman Audrey's attempting to close with, the legendary Lori Tan Chinn as Lolo's grandma- which works.

Visually the film is proficient with a handful of really inspired, impactful sequences- the friends at the club with the businessmen, train drug sequence, hanging out with the basketball team, attempted K-Pop impersonation- those serve to break up what scene-to-scene is mostly a nuts-and-bolts comedy approach to the cinematography. The soundtrack absolutely slaps and really serves to propel the film forward, make it feel alive and fresh, and maintain momentum. 

It's a really fun, energetic piece of entertainment that takes full advantage of its R rating and packs a punch. If there is an issue here it is simply one of confusion of tone. There seems to be a push and pull as to what the film is about. Some of the story beats come across as rote, formulaic, and these elements are cast in higher relief given how bonkers and playful and go-for-broke some of the characters and comedic sequences are. It feels as if the filmmakers wanted to make their version of Girls Trip but reigned it in a bit to appeal to a larger audience. In total it's still a wonderful watch and refreshing to see this kind of adult raunchy comedy get a major release, this is what No Hard Feelings wishes it was.

Maybe not an instant classic but bursting with laughs, surprises, and heart that ends with impact even if that part of the journey meanders.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

See It.