Joy Ride (2023)

[SeanC]

Quote

From the producers of Neighbors and the co-screenwriter of Crazy Rich Asians, JOY RIDE stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Oscar® nominee Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu. The hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. When Audrey’s (Ashley Park) business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the aid of Lolo (Sherry Cola), her irreverent, childhood best friend who also happens to be a hot mess; Kat (Stephanie Hsu), her college friend turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s eccentric cousin. Their no-holds-barred, epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are. 

This just debuted at SXSW, and the reception has been fairly positive. Big screen studio comedy is dicey as a commercial proposition these days, so hope for the best. I especially hope for good things for Lim in her directorial debut, after the pay controversy that saw her leave the Crazy Rich Asians sequel.

[Cress]

I saw this on the weekend. Really funny and raunchy. I love the opening where Audrey and Lolo meet on the playground, only to run into a racist kid. Lolo curses and punches him, sealing their friendship forever. After they were grownup though, I did feel like Lolo should stop referring to Audrey as "basically white", but they did finally address how Audrey resented this "not Asian enough" teasing. Lots of good emotion about finding the birthmom. I was surprised by the Korea angle too.

Edited July 11, 2023 by Cress

[nomodrama]

Saw this with a group of mom friends last weekend and we all laughed thru it and really enjoyed it. I love a female lead comedy, though I do think the premise of the girls trip where all the things go wrong to be very over done. As tends to happen in these movies, there were a couple of scenes that were so over the top that they took me out of the movie. 

The main actors were all wonderful though. I am officially in love with Stephanie Hsu and hope to see her in many more roles in the future. 

[kiddo82]

59 minutes ago, nomodrama said:

Saw this with a group of mom friends last weekend and we all laughed thru it and really enjoyed it. I love a female lead comedy, though I do think the premise of the girls trip where all the things go wrong to be very over done. As tends to happen in these movies, there were a couple of scenes that were so over the top that they took me out of the movie. 

The main actors were all wonderful though. I am officially in love with Stephanie Hsu and hope to see her in many more roles in the future. 

This.  It doesn't reinvent the wheel but I think it's a fun version of what it's trying to be and gives you exactly what you paid for.  And it's all the more buoyed by its dynamic, young cast.  I've been saying this since I first saw her on Nora from Queens, Stephanie Hsu is a star.

Edited July 12, 2023 by kiddo82