Joy Ride: Movie 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.

Win a double pass to see Insidious: Red Door at the cinema

To celebrate the release of Insidious: Red Door at the cinema, you can win a double pass thanks to Sony Pictures New Zealand.

About Insidious: Red Door

In Insidious: The Red Door, the horror franchise’s original cast returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga. 

To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.

The original cast from Insidious is back with Patrick Wilson (also making his directorial debut), Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne and Andrew Astor. Also starring Sinclair Daniel and Hiam Abbass. 

Produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli, James Wan and Leigh Whannell. The screenplay is written by Scott Teems from a story by Leigh Whannell, based on characters created by Leigh Whannell.

Insidious: The Red Door Opens Exclusively in Cinemas July 6.

To win, Just flick an email to darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com with INSIDIOUS as the subject and you're in the draw!

Win a double pass to see Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

To celebrate the release of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One in cinemas July 8, thanks to Paramount Pictures New Zealand, you can win a double pass!

About Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. 

With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan's past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. 

Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is in cinemas July 8.

To win, Just flick an email to darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com with MISSION as the subject and you're in the draw!

Final Fantasy XVI sells 3 Million on PlayStation 5

OVER 3 MILLION PLAYERS HAVE JOURNEYED INTO

THE REALMS OF VALISTHEA IN FINAL FANTASY XVI

 

 

SQUARE ENIX® has announced that the worldwide shipment and digital sales of the critically acclaimed action-RPG, FINAL FANTASY® XVI, have exceeded three million copies since its global launch on June 22 exclusively for PlayStation®5* (PS®5). Earning over 20 perfect review scores and praised as a “must-play title,” the latest standalone entry in the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY series has players take control of Clive Rosfield, in an all-new story taking them on an epic dark fantasy that takes place in the realms of Valisthea.

* Title is not available on other formats until at least 12/31/2023.

The FINAL FANTASY XVI Demo is the perfect opportunity for players to jump into the realms of Valisthea to experience the beginnings of protagonist Clive Rosfield’s epic tale. The demo gives players access to the opening prologue, with saved progress carrying over to the full game. In the demo, take control of Clive Rosfield at the start of his epic tale and learn about his ambitions and goals, as he endures a tragic event sending him on a dark and dangerous path of revenge. Completing the prologue allows players to experience a special battle demo which has numerous abilities unlocked, giving them the opportunity to jump into exhilarating battles and test out a wide array of devastating attacks and combos.

 

 

FINAL FANTASY XVI is available now. For more information, visit: https://www.finalfantasyxvi.com

Story of FINAL FANTASY XVI

FINAL FANTASY XVI introduces players to an all-new story in the FINAL FANTASY universe, an epic dark fantasy that takes place in the realms of Valisthea – a land blessed in the light of the Mothercrystals, and where peace falters as the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their dominions. The fate of the land is decided by the Eikons, mighty summoned beasts and their Dominants, men and women who have been blessed with the ability to call upon and wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon known as Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.

Independence Day in GTA Online: Free Monster Truck, New Dynamic Event, Themed Discounts, and More

Independence Day celebrations are in full swing this week in GTA Online, as players can claim a free Vapid Liberator monster truck, themed liveries for the Mobile Operations Center, seasonal discounts to the Firework Launcher, Firework Ammo, the USA Chute Bag, and more.

 In addition, disrupting the supply chains of rival gangs by stealing their goods will fully replenish players’ business Supplies in a new Dynamic Event arriving in Los Santos.

 

Full highlights from this week include:

 

• Free Vehicle: The Vapid Liberator monster truck, available to claim from Warstock Cache & Carry
• Free Themed Liveries: The Stars & Stripes, Eagle Claw, Eagle Claw Flag, and Fighting Freedom liveries for the Mobile Operations Center
• New Dynamic Event: Finders Keepers
• San Andreas Mercenaries Bonuses through July 12:

• Buy (or already own) the Operations Terminal and Mammoth Thruster Upgrades for the Mammoth Avenger to receive the Hinterland Bomber Jacket
• Sell GTA$500,000 worth of Smuggler cargo goods by July 12 to receive the LS Pounders Cap
• Complete all 6 Project Overthrow Missions by July 12 to get the Blue & Green Camo livery for the Mammoth Avenger
• Complete all 3 LSA Operations by July 12 to receive the Conveyor livery for the V-65 Molotok

• 2X GTA$ and RP on Hangar Sell Missions and Air Force Zero
• 3X GTA$ and RP on Business Battles
• On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
• Premium Test Ride: The Imponte Arbiter GT
• This week’s HSW Time Trial takes place between Sandy Shores and La Puerta
• Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom Vehicles: The Karin Boor (Off-Road) with the Star-Spangled Patriot livery, Truffade Z-Type (Sports Classics), Western Sovereign (Motorcycle) with the Independence Day livery, Annis RE-7B (Super) in the Pegasus livery, and the Vapid Bullet (Super)
• Luxury Autos Showroom Vehicles: The Truffade Thrax (Super) and Grotti Visione (Super)
• Lucky Wheel Top Prize: The Vapid Dominator GTX
• LS Car Meet Test Rides: The Annis ZR350, Invetero Coquette D10, and Pfister Neon
• LS Car Meet Prize Ride: The Grotti Cheetah Classic for those who finish in the Top 3 in the Pursuit Series for two days in a row this week
• Independence Day Discounts: 50% off the Western Sovereign (Motorcycle), Car Horns, Musket, Firework Launcher, Firework Ammo, Tire/Parachute Smoke, Facepaint, Clothing, Mk II Weapon finishes, Select Haircuts, Masks, Patriot Parachute, and the USA Parachute Bag
• 50% off the Hangar Workshop
• Vehicle Discounts: 30% off the Pegassi Weaponized Ignus (Super), Annis ZR350 (Sports), and Grotti Visione (Super), 40% off the HVY Menacer (Off-Road), and LF-22 Starling (Plane), 50% off the FH-1 Hunter (Helicopter) and Mobile Operations Center (and Upgrades)
• Gun Van Discounts: 35% off the Service Carbine and the Unholy Hellbringer (for GTA+ Members)
• GTA+ Benefits: A free Maibatsu MonstroCiti (Off-Road), the new Avenger Operations Terminal, Cream Pearl and Blue-Green Flip Chameleon Wheel Paints, Project Overthrow bonuses, 40% off Avenger upgrades, and more    

 

Please see the Newswire below for full details. Any questions, please let us know.

 

Thanks,

PJ

 

Independence Day Celebrations Commence in GTA Online
Steal Gang Supplies in a New Dynamic Event, Claim a Wide Range of Red-White-and-Blue Rewards, Earn 2X GTA$ and RP on Hangar Sell Missions, and More This Week

 

The grill’s heating up, and fireworks are exploding around the clock. It’s Independence Day week in Los Santos, and the patriotic flair is in full force citywide.

Celebrate freedom from tyranny with The Vapid Liberator (Off-Road) monster truck, available to claim for free from Warstock Cache & Carry. The Stars & Stripes, Eagle Claw, Eagle Claw Flag, and Fighting Freedom liveries for the Mobile Operations Center are also free to claim all this week.

 

 

INDEPENDENCE DAY DISCOUNTS

Get in the swing of the flag-waving spirit by also taking advantage of 50% off Independence Day-themed vehicles, customizations, weapons, fireworks, and more, including:

 

 

• Western Sovereign (Motorcycle)

 

• Car Horns
• Musket
• Firework Launcher
• Firework Ammo
• Tire/Parachute Smoke
• Facepaint and Clothing
• Mk II Weapon finishes
• Select Haircuts
• Masks
• Patriot Parachute
• USA Chute Bag

 

 

In addition to the above, all players can celebrate America’s birthday with explosive aplomb: locating the Gun Van will let you purchase the Firework Launcher and Musket at discount prices.

 

New Dynamic Event: Finders Keepers

New this week, keep watch for gangs escorting goods across Los Santos and disrupt their supply chains. Take possession of any transport vehicles you come across and bring them to your owned businesses to replenish some of your Supplies. If you don’t own the prerequisite business, you can deliver the goods to a drop-off point for GTA$ and RP.

 

2X GTA$ and RP on Hangar Sell Missions

Once you’ve acquired enough valuable contraband, offload it by land or by air in Smuggler Sell Missions via the Free Trade Shipping Co. on your Hangar laptop. Successfully deliver your payload to receive Double Rewards through July 5.

As a reminder, smugglers can speak to Rooster inside the Hangar to source Cargo crates for a fee.

 

The San Andreas Mercenaries Bonuses Event

Source and deliver contraband via the Free Trade Shipping Co. to reap the rewards of rare collectibles during the San Andreas Mercenaries Bonuses Event. Complete the following tasks through July 12 to earn these, all delivered within 10 days of completion:

 

• Buy (or already own) the Operations Terminal and Mammoth Thruster Upgrades for the Mammoth Avenger to receive the Hinterland Bomber Jacket
• Sell GTA$500,000 worth of Smuggler cargo goods by July 12 to receive the LS Pounders Cap
• Complete all 6 Project Overthrow Missions by July 12 to get the Blue & Green Camo livery for the Mammoth Avenger
• Complete all 3 LSA Operations by July 12 to receive the Conveyor livery for the V-65 Molotok

 

 

Business Battle Rewards

Be on the lookout for Business Battles firing in Freemode — in addition to paying out 3X GTA$ and RP all week long, if you come out on top collecting and delivering relevant cargo, you might get one of the Pißwasser, Benedict, Patriot, or Supa Wet Beer Hats, or the Statue of Happiness T-Shirt, as a bonus.

 

2X GTA$ and RP on Air Force Zero

Rise to the occasion in Air Force Zero, protecting or attacking a heavily armored aircraft as it makes its way to its destination, and you’ll earn Double Rewards for doing so.

Only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

 

Premium Test Ride: Imponte Arbiter GT
Pay Hao’s Special Works a visit to shop for customizations and take this week’s Premium Test Ride for a spin: a heavily modified Imponte Arbiter GT (Muscle) tweaked to the gills and ready to intimidate competitors, passengers, and civilian passersby.

 

This Week’s HSW Time Trial

Once you’ve let Hao under the hood, put your eligible vehicle through the paces of this week’s HSW Time Trial, cutting a mean streak between Sandy Shores and La Puerta in a North-South sprint.

 

 

Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom

Simeon Yetarian’s curated selection of rotating stock is always worth a look, especially when he’s offering the chance to inspect and test-drive his rides before parting with your hard-earned cash. Head over to the showroom and check out the vehicles available for purchase this week:

• Karin Boor (Off-Road) with the Star-Spangled Patriot livery
• Truffade Z-Type (Sports Classics)
• Western Sovereign (Motorcycle) with the Independence Day livery
• Annis RE-7B (Super) in the Pegasus livery
• Vapid Bullet (Super)

 

Luxury Autos Showroom

Visit the window display of the Luxury Autos showroom on Portola in Rockford Hills to get a closer look at the Truffade Thrax (Super) and Grotti Visione (Super, 30% off) gleaming behind the glass.

 

On the Lucky Wheel Podium: Vapid Dominator GTX

Spin the Lucky Wheel inside The Diamond Casino & Resort’s lobby for the opportunity to win various prizes, including this week’s jackpot: the Vapid Dominator GTX, a formidable modern Muscle car that’s as American as tax fraud.

Streetwise racers who finish in the Top 3 in the Pursuit Series for two days in a row this week will earn the keys to the Grotti Cheetah Classic, a beloved favorite in the Sports Classics class and a speed demon in its own rite.

Visit the Test Track inside the LS Car Meet to give a trifecta of Sports class cars — the Annis ZR350, Invetero Coquette D10, and Pfister Neon — trial runs between the columns, compete in randomized Scrambles against your peers, or see if you can set a record in a Time Trial.

GTA+

GTA+ Members can enjoy a wide selection of rewards, bonuses, and other perks through July 19, including:

• New Maibatsu MonstroCiti Off-Road Vehicle
• New Avenger Operations Terminal
• Cream Pearl and Blue-Green Flip Chameleon Wheel Paints
• 1.5X GTA$ and RP on Project Overthrow Missions
• 40% off the Mammoth Thruster docking station, Front Machine Guns, and Missiles Upgrades for the Avenger

And much more, including a GTA$500,000 bonus delivered upon billing each month. Visit the GTA+ website for the complete breakdown.

DISCOUNTS

A Hangar Workshop gives you access to the Weapons Workshop as well, helping to bring your aircraft and weaponry up to code. This vital upgrade is available from Maze Bank Foreclosures and 50% off through July 5. Plus, see below for the complete list of vehicles on sale.

 

 

• Pegassi Weaponized Ignus (Super) – 30% off
• Annis ZR350 (Sports) – 30% off
• Grotti Visione (Super) – 30% off
• HVY Menacer (Off-Road) – 40% off
• LF-22 Starling (Plane) – 40% off
• FH-1 Hunter (Helicopter) – 50% off
• Mobile Operations Center (and Upgrades) – 50% off

 

Gun Van Inventory and Discounts

You can purchase discounted instruments of destruction at Ammu-Nation. See below for the complete inventory.

Service Carbine (35% off) | Minigun | Up-N-Atomizer | Widowmaker | Unholy Hellbringer (35% off for GTA+ Members) | Tactical SMG | Firework Launcher | Musket | Pool Cue | Proximity Mines | Sticky Bombs | Grenades | Armor

What's on Shudder in July

Here's everything streaming on Shudder in July.

SHUDDER ORIGINAL AND EXCLUSIVE FILMS  

Quicksand 

Streaming Exclusively on Shudder 

Film Premieres Friday 14 July 

An American couple, on the brink of divorce, travel to Colombia  for a work conference. While on a hike through the rainforest,  a storm causes them to become trapped in a pit of quicksand.  

Unable to move, it becomes a struggle for survival as they battle the elements of the jungle and a  venomous snake, in order to escape. Starring Carolina Gaitan (Encanto) and Allan Hawco (Tom  Clancy’s Jack Ryan). 

Sharksploitation 

Streaming Exclusively on Shudder 

Film Premieres Friday 21 July 

In the wake of blockbuster classic Jaws, a new subgenre was  born. This new documentary explores the weird, wild cinematic  legacy of sharks on film and the world’s undying fascination.  

From director-producer Stephen Scarlata (Jodorowsky’s Dune). 

Etheria Film Night 2023 

Streaming Exclusively on Shudder 

Films Premiere Sunday 2 July through Monday 31 July 

The acclaimed annual horror festival showcasing new horror,  science fiction and fantasy films directed by women celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with the official festival line-up  once again streaming exclusively on Shudder from July 2 through to July 31.

NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S FILM LIBRARY 3 July 

Day of the Dead (1985) 

As the world is overrun by zombies, a group of scientists and military personnel sheltering in an  underground bunker in Florida must determine how they should deal with the undead horde. 

10 July 

Baby Blood 

When a strange creature crawls into a woman’s uterus, she becomes a killer in order to feed the tiny  terror growing within her. 

13 July 

The Price We Pay 

After a pawn shop robbery goes askew, two criminals take refuge at a remote farmhouse to try to let  the heat die down but find something much more menacing.  

17 July 

Contorted 

A family moves to a quiet and isolated place but suffers from nightmares on their very first day in the new  home. The wife is anxious about a strange sound she hears in the warehouse, but her husband ignores  her concerns. Meanwhile, the family’s nightmares are getting worse, to the point that they can hardly tell  the difference between dreams and reality. 

24 July 

A Bittersweet Life 

Things go wrong for a high-ranking mobster when he doesn’t proceed by his boss’s order.  

Oldboy (2003) 

After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to learn that he must  find his captor in five days.  

Dead of Night (1945) 

Guests invited to a weekend in the country share their supernatural stories, beginning with Walter Craig,  who senses impending doom as his half-remembered recurring dream turns into reality.