Joy Ride - A Movie Review

Trips with friends are the most memorable adventures ever.

After a long journey, Joy Ride traveled into theaters in 2023. Four Chinese-American best friends travel through China. Amidst this series of misadventures, the girls discover truths and strengthen their bond as they learn more about their friendship.

Joy Ride is one epic comedy that had audiences roaring in laughter. The movie has a meaningful message about the importance of friendship and embracing one’s true self. However, while the comedic moments hit the mark, Joy Ride falls short in terms of its overall storytelling, relying too heavily on sex jokes.

Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu shine brilliantly in Joy Ride. The talented actresses excel in both comedy, unexpected emotional depth, and their remarkable on-screen chemistry to make this friendship real. It’s evident they had fun making this film.

Fans of Ashley Park will recognize her from Netflix’s Emily in Paris (where she is the best character.) In Joy Ride, Park delivers a fantastic portrayal (along with fantastic vocals) of Audrey, a young woman on a quest to discover her biological roots.

Back in January, I watched Shortcomings at Sundance Film Festival with the magnificent Sherry Cola. She was the best and funniest part of the film. I highly recommend you see the film when it is out. As for her performance in Joy Ride, she is a standout, blending hilarious comedy and emotional depth.

Stephanie Hsu is another strong actress especially coming fresh off her Oscar-nominated performance in Everything Everywhere. Bringing a captivating presence to the screen, Kat faces a dilemma of whether to fake her true self for the sake of love.

As for Sabrina Wu, I had mixed feelings about DeadEye at first. Quirky and not involved with the other characters, as the film progresses, her character's uniqueness becomes an essential lesson in embracing one's true self. Wu is hilarious in every scene, even creating funny background moments which we don’t get enough of in films.

The main plotline of Joy Ride was sporadic and jumped between different storylines, lacking a cohesive flow. While the majority of the film revolves around the actresses engaging in lively interactions, the story wasn’t developed enough for my taste.

In certain aspects, Joy Ride evoked similarities to 80 for Brady. Both films explore friendship (albeit different generations), embarking on an adventure together, and encountering random scenarios that hinder them from their destination. As I said, all movies don’t have to acquire a cohesive story. Films can be silly as they want just as long as they make sense.

The comedy in Joy Ride features sex jokes, vulgar humor, and crude language. While I was laughing at several points, this style of comedy may not resonate with all viewers and has the potential to offend certain individuals. Viewer discretion is advised as the film includes nudity and the characters engaging in three separate sex scenes, including one involving a threesome.

In her directorial debut, Adele Lin’s greatest achievement shined through the chemistry of the actresses. Friendship serves as a remarkable theme in all of our lives. The message about friendship is powerful in Joy Ride.

Beyond the moments of humor, the women in Joy Ride exemplify the essence of true friendship. Road trips with friends are one of the most memorable times you’ll ever have to create lasting memories, talk, and learn hidden secrets.

Joy Ride is not a film for all audiences but surprisingly it was heartfelt. Take your best friends and go out and see Joy Ride in theaters. It will have you laughing on the floor.