2011’s BrIdesmaids was the confirmation, if any were needed, that the girls could be as rude and raucous as the boys when it came to comedy films and since then we’ve had Girls Trip, The Heat, Blockers and Trainwreck. So getting Joy Ride green lit was a no brainer especially with Seth Rogen on board as a producer.
Joy Ride follows four diverse Asian American friends as they travel through China in an attempt to find one of their birth mothers. Now the synopsis might not have it as anything out of the ordinary but writers Teresa Hsiao, Cherry Chevapravadumrong and director Adele Lim ( who had previously written the wildly successful Crazy Rich Asians) had a riot scripting some defiantly rude jokes and set pieces that made the film so good. – read our review HERE
Released over summer 2023 it, like so many films released around the same time but failed to escape the shadow of the Barbenheimer juggernaut and the film made a paltry £15m worldwide. It’s a great pity because there is a whole load to enjoy with the four leads on point with a range of often crude from a cast who, as one cast member describes in the discs bonus features, as from ‘repressed’ countries making their character’s behaviour so hilariously unexpected. But it’s that which made Joy Ride such an enjoyable romp whilst at the same underscored with a message about family and friendships all in a brisk 93 minute film.
Released on blu-ray & DVD there are a number of bonus features:
- A Grand Adventure: Making Joy Ride
- Adele Lim, Director: A Siren Call to Hollywood
- A Place of Joy: “R” is for Representation
- Never Too Much: A Comedic Lovefest
- WAP Sing-along
- WAP Solo Cast Choreography
- Deleted Scene
- Theatrical Trailer
The featurettes are all very much of the EPK variety with the best one being A Grand Adventure. The WAP sin-along is something different giving you the chance to do your own karaoke inspired version of the filthy funny lyrics in a K-pop styleee and the WAP Solo Cast Choreography is a look behind the (green) screens of the making of the video that partly appears in the film. What the disc does miss and would have benefitted from is a commentary from the writers and Adele Lim. Unfortunately the bonus features don’t measure up the film which itself is well worth a visit if you missed it at the cinema
Related feature : Crazy Rich Asians review
Related feature: Director Dione Edwards chats about her film ‘Pretty Red Dress’ Interview starring Alexandra Burke
instagram: We go to the Joy Ride premiere party!
Here’s the Joy Ride trailer……
