There’s been this subtle movement to break all of the stereotypes of Asians in cinema and fiction in general, and I’m enjoying it. “Joy Ride” is one of the newest entries in this new wave of mainstream Asian cinema that appeals to a niche audience but is also broad enough for everyone to relate to. “Joy Ride” is a film I liken very much to “Bridesmaids” and “The Hangover” to where four friends go through a sense of self realization, all while wreaking havoc on one big road trip. The foursome in “Joy Ride” are all wonderfully fleshed out individuals that are seeking fulfillment and a sense of purpose, and they end up finding it. This is all in service of their friend Audrey whose attempts to seal a big deal at her law firm send her on the journey she didn’t know she needed.
When Audrey’s business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the help of Lolo, her childhood best friend, Kat, a college friend, and Deadeye, Lolo’s eccentric cousin. Their epic, no-holds-barred 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.
“Joy Ride” smashes all the clichés about Asian women, depicting them as flawed, loud, blunt, weird, and always capable of making a mistake here and there. The screenplay from Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao, and Adele Lim has a marvelous grasp on characterization, offering four very unique and charming individuals. They’re all given considerable spotlights throughout “Joy Ride” which allows them to shine, and the cast are more than capable in their respective roles. Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola, and Sabrina Wu are laugh out loud hysterical in their respective roles, playing thirty something women that are set in their ways, but deep down just want a lot more.
Park is absolutely gorgeous and adorable in her role as Audrey who is grasping with her sense of identity, especially as she ventures through China. Cola and Hsu are no slouches either, playing two women adhering to standards and obligations that are preventing them from blossoming in to better people. Probably my favorite character though is Sabrina Wu as Lolo’s weird cousin Deadeye. From her comic timing to her surprisingly sweet characterization, she manages to really stand out in an already talented cast. Her K pop obsession also manages to inspire some of the best gags in the whole film. Director Lim doesn’t shy away from the culture that helps make these characters so unique, dropping them in the middle of China and allowing them to flourish.
The characters’ exploits amount to some great mishaps including a confrontation with drug officers on a train, Deadeye’s massive family, and an inexplicable but hilarious musical number. Along the way, “Joyride” really does transform in to a tasteful ode to family and embracing one’s culture, while always keeping its tongue firmly planted in cheek. I don’t know if there’s going to be a sequel, but I’d love to see the “Joy Ride” foursome on another wild road trip. In a current cinematic landscape void of raunchy, edgy comedies, “Joy Ride” is exactly the kind of laugh riot that we need right now.