Joy Ride

Over the past few years, an unfortunate trend has gained traction: the relegation of studio comedies to muted streaming releases. There were certainly occasional theatrical releases, like the stellar Bros last year, but for the most part the studio comedy was becoming an increasingly niche genre as far as I could tell. This year, however, there has been a burst of strong studio comedies onto the scene. Prior to Joy Ride, 2023 has delivered 80 for Brady, Mafia Mamma, No Hard Feelings, House Party, The Machine, The Blackening, and Book Club: The Next Chapter. All of these were a delightful return to form for variety in the theatrical space, and Joy Ride is certainly no exception.

Joy Ride follows best friends Audrey (Ashley Park) and Lolo (Sherry Cola) as they embark on a trip to China to close a business deal and potentially reconnect Audrey with her birth mother. Along the way, they’re joined by Lolo’s cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu) and Audrey’s college roommate Kat (Stephanie Hsu). They get into increasingly absurd scenarios, and hijinks ensue!

The plot is fairly standard but hits when it needs to. Due to the simple framing of a road trip throughout China, there’s a level of versatility to the goings-on that allows the actors to play to their strengths and enables the writers to come up with absurd comedic bits that consistently land. The further the road trip goes on, however, it becomes increasingly evident how well-written these characters are as the film has several emotional beats that land because of how much the audience cares about them and their struggles.

The actors who bring these lovable, hilarious characters to life are equally deserving of praise. The quartet has fantastic chemistry with each other. All of them are given plenty of chances to stand out with great jokes and sequences. That being said, the relationship between Audrey and Lolo is the true heart of the film. As the two characters grow throughout their tumultuous journey, Ashley Park and Sherry Cola do a great job creating a very believable friendship that will easily hook the audience. Sabrina Wu as Deadeye is somehow even better than the main duo, consistently delivering funny and touching moments. Last but not least, Stephanie Hsu, coming off of her Oscar nomination for Everything Everywhere All at Once, proves her incredible comedic prowess once again. In the aforementioned film she’s given plenty to do with both comedic and dramatic beats, but in Joy Ride her comedic timing and delivery especially shines.

The only problem I really have is the pacing. Despite the clever writing and hilarious delivery, it can often seem like you’re just waiting for another wacky sequence because the structure the film follows is so often used in comedies that the audience surely already knows what to expect. 

As the theatrical landscape continues to pivot towards huge blockbuster filmmaking, studio comedies are necessary to maintain a thriving variety in cinemas. Joy Ride is a hilarious trip with four great up-and-coming performers that absolutely earns its spot alongside the strong comedies released over the years. Please check this one out, it’s well worth your time.

8/10