Joy Ride

Joy Ride

Four Asian-American friends travel through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. Along the way, their experience becomes one of bonding, friendship, belonging and no-holds-barred debauchery.

  • Released: 2023-07-05
  • Runtime: 82 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Stars: Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu, David Denman, Annie Mumolo, Chris Pang, Isla Rose Hall, Desmond Chiam, Alexander Hodge, Debbie Fan, Ashley Park, Meredith Hagner
  • Director: Adele Lim
 Comments
  • amaashie - 2 May 2024
    Perfect to watch for some girl time!!
    Small tip- forget about the reviews here, give it a try!!! Honestly I had no idea about the premise of this movie or the plot - came across a video on instagram and thought just watch it, what the heck. Wanted to be surprised.

    And this is hilarious, and unhinged and totally inappropriate- absolutely lovedddd it. This is perfect to watch when you need some girl time or a night watch to wind down.

    Filled with loud laughter, cracking jokes and also really emotional bits (I was bawling). Perfect balance of everything. Great casting too! And loved the twist they had towards the end.

    You won't regret it!
  • eddie_baggins - 25 January 2024
    A vulgar comedy with little heart
    With Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen along for the ride as producers, it's no surprise that the vulgar and often immature Joy Ride is the film that it is and while there is nothing wrong with humour that keeps its mind mostly in the gutter, debut director Adele Lim's film is not as funny as it needs to be to gloss over the fact there's very little weight or originality in this big screen dud outside of its Asian based material and cast.

    Budgeted somewhere in the vicinity of around $30 million dollars not including an extensive marketing campaign that heralded in the films cinema release, Joy Ride only managed an extremely poor sub-$14 million dollar return at box office booths around the world, another sad story to the struggles of big screen comedies in the marketplace right now but despite many reviewers getting behind the film the simple truth is Lim's film lacks a strong flow of jokes and becomes a film that may produce the odd mild chuckle but nothing else on the 90 minute journey.

    Starring an array of talented performers that are championed by Ashley Park and recent Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu as well as the guidance of Lim who has been involved in the likes of Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon, Joy Ride has some serious talent attached to it and it's refreshing to see Hollywood get behind such a diverse comedic outing that is like Bridesmaids done with a China backdrop, making it such a shame the cast, story and film as a whole weren't able to combine to give us a comedic winner in a global marketplace that's crying out for another winner in the girls gone wild comedy genre.

    You can sense a strong feeling of playfulness and chemistry from the cast here, with Park and Sherry Cola as long term friends Audrey and Lolo playing off one another well while the supports of Hsu as the adventurous Kat and Sabrina Wu as the awkward "McLovin" like Deadeye should have been utilised better here but across a generic story that speaks to finding oneself, run ins with drug mules, dalliances with basketball teams and K-Pop disguises, all performances and potential winning moments are squandered around poor execution and delivery that makes this trip more of a time passer than a pleasant and memorable outing.

    One can only hope the poor financial and audience reception to Joy Ride doesn't further halt Hollywood's keenness to support original comedic and escapist outings but if more future efforts turn out like Joy Ride, the day and age of the adult oriented cinematic comedy will be gone before we know it.

    Final Say -

    A rude, crude but mostly just bland comedy that forgot to pack the laughs on the trip, Joy Ride is a disappointing utilisation of talent that will be soon forgotten.

    2 questionable pieces of art out of 5

    Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
  • tsekyi-37681 - 21 December 2023
    A Comedy with Missed Opportunities
    Joy Ride, featuring the talented American-Korean actor Ashley Park, promised to be an entertaining comedy that would provide a fresh perspective on Chinese society. However, upon watching the film, I couldn't help but feel disappointed by its lack of clarity, logical storytelling, and its surface-level portrayal of China.

    The movie seemed to shy away from delving into the darker aspects of Chinese society, choosing instead to present a sanitized and incomplete picture. It neglected to explore the complexities and nuances that would have added depth and authenticity to the narrative. As a viewer, I was left wanting a more comprehensive and critical examination of China.

    One aspect that particularly stood out was the movie's attempt to bring attention to hot topics such as racism and Asian identity. While these issues are undoubtedly important and deserve exploration, their inclusion in the film felt more like a superficial grab for attention rather than a meaningful exploration. The storyline lacked the crispness and creativity that one would expect, leaving the film feeling predictable and uninspired.

    Furthermore, it was disheartening to see the movie embrace Chinese nationalism and anti-American sentiments. Even in the realm of comedy, one would hope for a more balanced representation and a stronger moral responsibility. The film's alignment with these thoughts overshadowed the potential for a nuanced and engaging narrative, leaving a bitter aftertaste.