1/5
From left, Sabrina Wu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, and Stephanie Hsu star in “Joy Ride.” Photo courtesy of Lionsgate
LOS ANGELES, July 3 (UPI) — Joy Ride hits theaters this Friday, offering a raunchy comedy experience with a mix of hit-or-miss jokes. However, the film manages to provide enough laughs throughout its 95-minute duration to make it a worthwhile viewing experience.
The story revolves around best friends Audrey (Ashley Park) and Lolo (Sherry Cola). Both grew up in the fictional town of White Hills, Wash. When Audrey embarks on a business trip to Beijing for her law firm, she decides to bring Lolo along.
Lolo also invites her cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), and the trio meets up with Kat (Stephanie Hsu), an actor on Chinese television.
Audrey faces dismissal from her client due to her “Americanized” behavior, as she was adopted by a White family. To seal the deal, Audrey makes an impulsive decision to bring her Chinese birth mother to the next meeting. However, Lolo has already taken action by contacting Audrey’s adoption agency, hoping it will encourage Audrey to search for her birth mother.
Like many outrageous comedies, this film revolves around a generic business deal. In Joy Ride, this sets the stage for the quartet to embark on a journey exploring the country and finding resolutions to their familial issues.
An unfortunate mishap on the train leads to the loss of their passports. However, unlike films like Plains, Trains and Automobiles or Road Trip, their journey doesn’t turn into a complete disaster. Instead, it forces them to explore more of the country, from bustling cities to rural areas, where they encounter diverse groups of people.
The cast of Joy Ride has great chemistry, portraying old friends with a mix of familiarity and rivalry. This dynamic creates banter throughout the film, with some riffs showcasing more humor than others.
All of the female characters have a sex-positive attitude. Lolo, in particular, expresses her sexuality through sexually explicit sculptures, but all four women view sex as something to be celebrated.
This leads to a montage of sexual escapades that are hilariously portrayed through creative configurations. The film includes some surprising and bold jokes that haven’t been spoiled in the trailers, including a graphic full frontal gag.
Amidst these vulgar set pieces, the film also manages to deliver emotional moments. Joy Ride delves into Audrey’s journey of discovering her birth mother and the challenges faced in her female friendships.
Audrey’s struggle with her Asian identity is a recurring theme throughout the movie. Her confusion between Korean and Chinese heritage and her Americanization neglect of her Asian side add depth to her character.
By addressing these cultural identities, Joy Ride stands out among the sea of predominantly White-led comedies. The film’s ability to make these cultural issues equally funny and heartfelt shows their potential to resonate with diverse audiences.
However, it is important to note that Joy Ride is primarily a comedy. The film maintains a fast pace, ensuring that even if not every scene is hilarious, it remains engaging throughout.
Fred Topel, a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles, attended film school at Ithaca College. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012, and a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2023. For more of his work in Entertainment, read his articles.
