
Photo by: Lionsgate
Adele Lim has her directorial debut with the upcoming comedic film Joy Ride, but she’s not a novice when it comes to writing for the big screen and celebrating Asian culture. She wrote the screenplay for Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). It was a group effort on penning Joy Ride with the story by Lim, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (Family Guy, Resident Alien), and Teresa Hsiao (Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, Fresh Off the Boat), and screenplay written by Chevapravatdumrong and Hsiao.
Spearheading the predominantly Asian cast is Ashley Park (Beef, Emily in Paris) as Audrey, Chinese adoptee who grew up in a straight edge White Washington community with her parents Joe and Mary Sullivan (David Denman and Annie Mumolo); Sherry Cola (Good Trouble, Shortcomings) as Lolo, Audrey’s childhood best friend with a personality to match her outspoken nature and explicit artistic talent; Sabrina Wu in her acting debut as Deadeye, Lolo’s K-pop loving introverted yet chaotic cousin; and Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Kat, Aubrey’s college bestie who moved to Beijing to become an actress and is now on a popular series engaged to her co-star Clarence (Desmond Chiam).

Joy Ride starts off in 1998 where viewers see the inception of Lolo and Audrey’s friendship and then fast forwards to the adult version of the characters as the story progresses from a work trip to China into a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and sex positivity through Asia as Audrey searches for her birth mother.
The Leading Ladies
Everything about the casting of Joy Ride is perfect. There are few actresses of color that are the featured faces in big blockbuster films and even fewer projects in Hollywood that highlight a minority culture with a majority, if not all the cast being of the same descent. The phones of the leading ladies of Joy Ride should be ringing off the hook after the masses see their performances in this film and realizing there is money and time that needs to be invested in supporting Asian led films.

Each actress had their moments to shine as the story shifted and gave each character proper screen time for the audience to get to know and fall in love with them in the 1 hour and 32-minute running time. No character seemed to overshine another, and each brought out a familiarity in that they are the kind of girls you want to be friends with and will root for them in any capacity. You will laugh with, and often at, them and embrace all the different personalities that illuminated the screen. There’s an unexpected heartwarming aspect towards the end of the film with Ashley Park’s character that left tears welling up in my eyes giving Joy Ride a balance of humor and heart.
The Laughs
As most things in life are subjective so is the humor in Joy Ride. For those who consider themselves on the prude side, the jokes in Joy Ride can be seen as over the top, gratuitous, and maybe even offensive as some of the banter is centered on sexuality and Asian stereotypes, but it was just my kind of humor. It’s refreshing to see women as deviant beings and explore all the layers that comes with it. Sherry Cola’s comedian background allowed many of the jokes to flow effortlessly from her character, but I found all the ladies to be funny in a way unique to their characters’ demeanors.

There were moments in the film that you were expecting to be funny, like the girls unintentionally becoming drug dealers as seen in the trailer, and then moments you didn’t know you needed. Two words. Brownie Tuesday. While some jokes didn’t land, there were plenty that left audience members in uproarious laughter at my early screening.
The Lay of the Land
Cinematographer Paul Yee exceptionally amplified the visuals with the soundtrack of the film. Joy Ride shows off the different vibes in a variety of cities that takes viewers into nightlife culture, the open sea, and even the diverse ways of living. While most of Joy Ride was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, all locations fully immersed you even if for a little while. The locations of the film also plays as an additional character in that one major theme of the movie focuses on identity and learning about the roots of where you come from.

In 2009 The Hangover was the big raunchy boys trip gone wrong film that everyone couldn’t stop talking about or referencing. Bridesmaids in 2011 gave women an opportunity to have their comical mishap moment. Girls Trip in 2017 allowed women of color to enter the chat for the genre of film that centers on crude humor while telling a story of friendship. And now in 2023 Joy Ride will be added to the list of films that is not only a must see in theaters, but one of those films that will make you laugh until your sides hurt and will be referenced in pop culture for years to come.
Joy Ride comes to theaters July 7, 2023.
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