[FILM REVIEW] JOY RIDE Review (2023)

Summary: Follows four Chinese-American friends as they bond and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while they travel through China in search of one of their birth mothers.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates:  6th July 2023 (Australia), 6th July 2023 (Thailand), 4th August 2023 (UK), 7th July 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA, UK

Director: Adele Lim

Screenwriter: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao

Cast: Rohain Arora (Arvind), Nicholas Carella (Kevin), Desmond Chiam (Clarence), Ronny Chieng (Chao), Lori Tan Chinn (Nai Nai Chen), Michelle Choi-Lee (Min Park), Sherry Cola (Lolo), Baron Davis (Baron Davis), David Denman (Joe Sullivan), Debbie Fan (Jenny Chen), Nick Fontaine (Mike), Meredith Hagner (Jess), Isla Rose Hall (Audrey (age 12)), Alexander Hodge (Todd), Stephanie Hsu (Kat), Daniel Dae Kim (Dae), Sunghee Lapell (Mrs. Hee Hee), Victor Lau (Jiaying), Lillian Lim (Helen), Kenneth Liu (Wey Chen), Annie Mumolo (Mary Sullivan), Chris Pang (Kenny), Ashley Park (Audrey), Chloe Pun (Lolo (age 12)), Timothy Simons (Frank), Jonny Wu (Xing Xing), Sabrina Wu (Deadeye), Lennon Yee (Young Audrey (aged 5), Belle Zhang (Young Lolo (aged 5)), Jian Ning Zheng (Grandpa Chen)

Running Time: 95 mins

Classification: MA15+ (Australia), 15 (Thailand), R (UK), 15+ (USA)

YOU JOY RIDE REVIEWS

Dave Griffiths’ Joy Ride Review

With the arrival of Joy Ride in cinemas we may have just seen the start of a very special film journey for a lot of audience members. See this is one of those films where the trailer just doesn’t do the film justice. Many will be turned off by the fact that this seems to be a outrageous comedy targeted at teenagers… when in reality the debut feature film from Adele Lim is so much more.

Yes, Joy Ride is a comedy in the vein of classic comedies like American Pie and Road Trip but there is also a more serious side to the film as it centres around deep and important topics such as learning about one’s identity and culture and above all friendship.

The film centres around two friends – Audrey (Ashley Park – Emily In Paris) and Lolo (Sherry Cola – Good Trouble). The pair became best friends at a young age and instantly bonded because both had Chinese heritage.

But their lives couldn’t be more different. Lolo’s Chinese parents made sure she was well aware of her culture while Audrey who was adopted by a white American family knows nothing of her heritage. Even through school while they remained friends they were also very different – Audrey was always the student who was to succeed while Lolo was always in trouble – in fact she was voted Most Likely To Be Arrested.

Flash-forward to today and they are now young adults. Audrey is a successful lawyer and Lolo is an unemployed artist who lives in Audrey’s garage. Everything changes for them though when Audrey finds herself having to go to China to secure a client for her firm. Unable to speak fluent Chinese she decides to take Lolo with her to act as her interpreter.

Things don’t go to plan though. When they arrive at the airport Audrey learns that Lolo has brought her weird cousin, Deadeye (Sabrina Wu – Styx & Stones) along for the ride. Things get even worse when Audrey introduces Lolo to her college best friend, Kat (Stephanie Hsu – The Path), who now works as an actress in China… jealousy ensues.

But by far the worst thing to happen is that the client isn’t that interested in Audrey’s business proposal until he gets to learn more about her family – her birth family. Audrey is horrified to discover that Lolo had already tried to find out information about her birth mother and it soon sees the four on an ill-fated journey that seems doomed from the start.

There couldn’t be a more apt title for this film than Joy Ride because this is a film that really takes the audience on a ride as well – a truly emotional one with a good mix of comedy. It is rare that an outrageous comedy like this one, and be prepared there are a lot of adult jokes about sex to be found here, that also manages to have a serious side as well, but that is certainly what you will get here.

Lim’s screenplay gives the audience the best of both worlds. The humour hits the spot and the audience will find themselves laughing out loud very, very frequently. Then there is the more touching side to this story. As previously mentioned Joy Ride touches on some deep topics – things like self-indentity, culture and friendship but it does so with true emotion. There are emotional twists and turns throughout the film and Lim makes sure that the audience can never be prepared for what is going to happen next.

What also makes this film have such an emotional impact is the fact that the characters are not only likable but also relatable. Every single audience member will find themselves identifying with at least one of the characters in the film and the result is it feels like you are being taken on their emotional journey as well. There will be a lot of self-reflecting by people when they leave this film and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

The performances in Joy Ride are also amazing. Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu and Stephanie Hsu handle the fact that they have to mix both comedy with emotion in their roles and they it remarkably well. Sherry Cola certainly has a career in comedy ahead of her while Ashley Park has the skills to be Hollywood’s next big leading lady.

Joy Ride is a phenomenal film that is going to mean a lot to a lot of people. It is rare for an outrageous comedy to have so much heart and emotion attached to it and that is what makes this such a special film. Be prepared to laugh, be prepared to cry but above all be prepared to fall in love with Joy Ride.

David’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s Joy Ride Review

Think of the hijinks in Crazy Rich Asians, Bridesmaids and The Hangover and you go some way to understanding why Joy Ride will be a fan favourite.

There are laughs, silliness and good times aplenty.

As five-year-olds, Audrey and Lolo meet by chance in 1998 at a New York park.

Born in Asia, Audrey – who only speaks English – was adopted by her white American parents and has never shown an interest in her birth mother.

Of Asian heritage, Lolo was born in the United States.

Audrey (Ashley Park) has forged a successful career as a lawyer, while Lolo (Sherry Cola) is a struggling, left of centre artist who lives in Audrey’s garage.

Audrey gets her opportunity to make partner at her law firm if she can close a deal during a four-day business trip to China.

Along for the ride are Lolo and Lolo’s eccentric cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), whose only friends are online.

To act as translator, Audrey also hooks up with an old college friend, now a successful actor, Kat (Stephanie Hsu).

After dating for three years, Kat is engaged to a fellow actor and God-fearing heartthrob Clarence (Desmond Chiam). She has agreed not to sleep with him until they are married.

Little does he know about her notorious, sex-crazed past.

When Audrey’s client makes it clear that he can’t do business with anyone until they know where they come from, she sets about trying to track down her birth mum.

Over the top antics are the lifeblood of Joy Ride, which lives up to its title.

Put simply, it is a hoot.

Among noteworthy moments are the quartet sampling substances and getting down and dirty with members of the Chinese basketball team.

Another standout is when they attempt to sing their way onto an international flight.

Marking the feature directorial debut of Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim, the screenplay is by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao. The pair wrote for the TV series Family Guy.

Sherry Cola has a ball with Lolo’s exuberant, “call it like it is” attitude.

Ashely Park does a fine job in transitioning Audrey from entitled to respecting her past.

Sabrina Wu has breakout moments as Deadeye, who craves meaningful friendship.

Stephanie Hsu invests Kat with a good girl/bad girl vibe, complete with a questionable tattoo that goes viral.

Joy Ride is about mateship and mayhem, not to overlook warmth and family. Its irreverence is endearing and engaging.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Joy Ride Reviews:

You can read our review of Joy Ride that appeared in The Phuket News here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/joy-ride-gets-thumbs-up-for-slick-comedy-88792.php

Trailer: