JOY RIDE – A Review by Cynthia Flores
Asians have lacked representation in films, much like any other marginalized people. Hollywood has always pretended we do not exist except as bit players or in the background. However, with the massive hit of 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians and the 2022 Oscar sweeping Everything Everywhere All at Once, the tides are turning. Asian films have proven they can make lots of money and win awards.
So now, with Joy Ride, there is Asian representation in crass humor comedies. This movie is an over-the-top story with wacky raunchy comedy along the lines of 2009s The Hangover and 2011s Bridesmaids. Like Bridesmaids, Joy Ride has an all-woman lead cast. The humor in Joy Ride is silly, tongue-in-cheek, and not afraid to get nasty.
This film is about the friendship between uber-successful Audrey Sullivan (Ashley Park) and struggling artist Lolo (Sherry Cola). They grew up together as the only Asian kids in school and besties. Ashley was adopted from Asia by a white couple in the US. She is thriving and content with her family situation. Until her company sends her to Asia to bag a big client.
She takes Lolo as her interpreter, who begrudgingly lets her younger awkward cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wi) tag along. Once there they meet up with Kat (Oscar Nominee Stephanie Hsu), a Chinese soap star and Audrey’s college bestie.
While partying with the client, Audrey gets really drunk and blows her big chance to win the client. Once together, these four unlikely friends embark on an international adventure to help Audrey find her birth mother, bring her to the client’s party and win the account. Nothing goes as planned. But along this road trip laced with wild debauchery, their friendships are tested, and they discover the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are. All the while making us laugh our heads off.
In case you live under a rock, let me introduce you to the ladies of Joy Ride. This is the first lead role in a film for Ashley Park. Most people know and love her from her role in the Netflix series Emily in Paris. So it’s nice to see her stretch her comedic muscles as the star of this film. Sherry Cola is a well-known standup comic who acts and writes as well. She always brings an off-kilter vibe to any role she plays. Sabrina Wu is the youngest of the group. She first started standup at age sixteen and continued to perform as an undergraduate student at Harvard University. She only has one writing credit; this is her first part in a feature film. It won’t be her last. Then, of course, there is Stephanie Hsu. She first stole every scene she was in on the Amazon Prime Video series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. And, of course, her Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress this year for Everything Everywhere All at Once is making her the “It Girl” to watch.
I give Joy Ride 3.5 stars. It’s no surprise that Seth Rogen is one of the producers of this unapologetically explicit film. His style of humor runs through the whole thing. Joy Ride is a good reason to go into a cold movie theater and enjoy some laughs away from the glaring heat of summer.
Directed by: Adele Lim
Written by: Cherry Chevapravatdrumrong, Teresa Hsiao, Adele Lim
Starring: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu
Rated: R
Selig Rating: 3.5 Stars
Running Time: 1hr 35min
Comedy
In Theaters Wide Release: July 7th
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
