Raunchy comedies are back, and they’re making a big splash. Following Jennifer Lawrence’s No Hard Feelings is Joy Ride, a genuinely funny and heartfelt film about friendship, identity, and not needing to be perfect. Directed by Adele Lim from a screenplay by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, Joy Ride is the kind of film that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Bolstered by a fantastic ensemble cast, the road trip comedy isn’t afraid to get dirty, but it never forgets its heart in the process.
Audrey (Ashley Park) and Lolo (Sherry Cola) have been best friends since childhood, but they couldn’t be more different. As the only two Chinese American girls in their school at the time, Audrey and Lolo had each other’s backs. However, Audrey being adopted shaped her differently than it did Lolo, who grew up with her biological parents. When Audrey visits China on a work trip, Lolo thinks it’s the perfect opportunity for Audrey to find her biological mother. Joining the pair on their journey is Kat (Stephanie Hsu), Audrey’s best friend from college and a famous actress, and Lolo’s cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu, who is great). The trip, meant to be fun, turns into a whirlwind adventure none of them expected.
What makes Joy Ride stand out isn’t necessarily its comedy, it’s the characters’ endearing relationship and themes surrounding acceptance, how identity can shape you, and the support system that can be built with friends. The film is well-balanced, knowing when to rein in the raunch and when to bust out the heartwarming moments for the greatest emotional impact. Joy Ride will be compared to other raunchy comedies, but there’s a spark and a specificity here that allows it to stand on its own.
The film ponders how growing up with different backgrounds can affect us. For Audrey, who feels like an outsider among the Asian community, the need to be perfect and overachieve helps her belong. There’s a push-pull dynamic between her and best friend Lolo, who’s more of a free spirit and someone who knows exactly who she is. Their journey and friendship is one of acceptance, taking risks, and being unafraid of being yourself, regardless of who that might be. Audrey is often afraid of learning about her past, but Joy Ride gives her the space to make new discoveries that reshape her identity, adding to it rather than stripping it away.
Joy Ride is at many points touching and gentle, and rough and explicit at others. It’s a fine line to walk, but Lim, Hsiao, and Chevapravatdumrong never miss a beat. It’s a comedy that is at once deeply personal, tender, chaotic and funny. The way it’s handled is exemplary. It helps that the film is buoyed by a tremendous cast, whose chemistry deepens the character dynamics. Ashley Park is a standout, and she’s able to balance her character’s emotional spectrum, which ranges from frustration, vulnerability, and wild desire. The rest of the supporting cast — including an exceptional Stephanie Hsu, who continues to prove her versatility as an actress in a role that’s the complete opposite of Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Joy — is outstanding, bringing heart and humor in spades.
Joy Ride is a must-watch movie this summer. It delivers the laughs and has a genuine emotional center that is missing from some of this year’s biggest blockbusters. The film isn’t simply a comedy, but an exploration of identity, being authentically yourself no matter what that means, and friendship as a core support system. It’s unabashedly raunchy, and it’s able to juggle multiple characters, a wild trip, and fun without forgetting about the character dynamics at its core.
Joy Ride releases in theaters July 7. The film is 95 minutes long and rated R for strong and crude sexual content, language throughout, drug content and brief graphic nudity.