Joy Ride: Neon NZ Review

Cast: Ashley Park, Stephanie Ysu, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu

Director: Adele Lim

It's depressing that the riotously and consistently funny Joy Ride will become part of a conversation that's tagged about how women can do debauched comedy and even worse, how Asians can be funny as well.

Because truth be told, this road trip movie deserves to stand alone for its anarchic edges, its eye for a good dirty joke and its exploration of female friendship.

Whereas Bridesmaids set the bar for friend rivalries between BFFs and laid out the gross gag quota, Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim's directorial debut pushes the boundaries of humour and also delivers something that's packed with as much heart as it has humour.

It's the story of adoptee Audrey (Emily In Paris' Park), a successful lawyer and soon to be partner if she can seal a deal in China. Despite her apparent heritage, Audrey has no experience of China or its customs, and brings along long-term friend Lolo (Cola, brash and funny in equal measure) for the trip to help out. 

Also along for the ride is Lolo's cousin, the K-pop obsessed Deadeye (Wu, who provides many of the laughs) and inadvertently, Everything Everywhere All At Once's Stephanie Ysu as Audrey's old college friend Kat, who instigates a rift between Lolo and Audrey.

However, things unsurprisingly don't go to plan…

The kicker about Joy Ride is just how many gags it packs into its 90 minute run time. Some set pieces are really riotous as the dynamic between the occasionally dysfunctional quartet kicks into gear. As it examines the push/pull between the foursome, Lim's deft touches behind the camera keep everything geared toward laughter, as well as the recognisable elements that form the cornerstones of friendship.

Pacy and zippy to start off with, Joy Ride's fresh energy marks it out as one of the best comedies of the year, before it depressingly collapses in a pile of admittedly well-earned and signposted sentiment and mawkishness, exploring the elements of belonging, adoption and identity.

Crowd-pleasing in extremis, and never afraid to use its leading ladies to maximum effect, Joy Ride is a rare comedy that rises above its representation and demonstrates that pound for pound, this is the laugh-out loud movie audiences have been craving for years.