REVIEW: Fans Are In For a Joy Ride with Adele Lim’s ‘Joy Ride’
Friends since they were kids, Audrey (Ashley Park) and Lolo (Sherry Cola) couldn’t be more different. Driven and extremely focused, Audrey will stop at nothing to be the best, including becoming partner at her law firm. At this point in her life, Audrey will do whatever it takes to seal the deal. Lolo, on the other hand, is a free spirit. An artist, Lolo is in no hurry to prove anything to anyone. But no matter what their differences are, the two are inseparable. When Audrey is asked to head to China to secure a new client for her firm, Lolo jumps at the chance to travel as Audrey’s translator to their home country. Joining the two on their trip are Lolo’s eccentric cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu) and Audrey’s college best friend, Kat (Stephanie Hsu). Once in China, the ladies find themselves traveling across the country on a trip that will not only test their friendships, but also help them discover who they really are.
In her directorial debut, Adele Lim knocks it out of the park with Joy Ride. Think Bridesmaids, but instead of a group of friends coming together for a wedding, this group of friends is coming together for a girls’ trip to China. Lim easily entwines a heartwarming story about finding yourself, with humor and a tad bit of raunchiness. Typically, I try to steer away from raunchy movies because far too many times have I gone into a raunchy comedy and the comedy portion gets lost in the movie’s need to push the raunchy envelope. However, that’s not the case with this movie. Lim, rather, leans hard into the comedy and sprinkles it with a tad bit of raunchiness. While at the same time focusing on each character’s identity, mainly Audrey’s. All four women are Asian-American, but, unlike her three friends, Audrey was adopted by a White American family. As the ladies’ travel throughout China, we watch Audrey attempt to understand who she is and where she is from. The movie is predictable at times, but the witty dialogue and the great display of friendship keep you tuned in from start to finish.
Though, what makes this movie so good is the cast. Park, Cola, Wu, and Hsu are delightful. Park is fantastic as the passionate Audrey while Cola is the glue that keeps the group together. She nails the comedy when she needs to, and she lays down the law when she needs to. Hsu is fun as the dramatic Kat, but Wu’s Deadeye is the standout. At first, I was very unsure about her character, but as the movie progressed the family found her groove and became one of my favorite parts of the movie.
If you are looking for a movie that will make you laugh and will keep you entertained from start to finish, this movie is for you. From their friendship to their crazy antics, you are guaranteed a fun time with Joy Ride.
Grade: A