About the film (courtesy of Lionsgate):
The hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure. When Audrey’s (Ashley Park) business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the aid of Lolo (Sherry Cola), her irreverent, childhood best friend who also happens to be a hot mess; Kat (Stephanie Hsu), her college friend turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s eccentric cousin. Their no-holds-barred, epic 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 is a hilarious and heartwarming road trip comedy that follows four Asian-American friends as they embark on a journey of self-discovery across Asia. The film is full of laugh-out-loud moments, but it also tackles some deeper themes of identity, culture, and belonging.

The cast is simply phenomenal and is one of the Joy Ride‘s strongest assets. Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu all give scene-stealing performances. Park is particularly good as Audrey, the uptight corporate executive who is forced to loosen up on her trip. Cola is a revelation as Lolo, the wild and unpredictable best friend who always knows how to have a good time. Hsu and Wu are also great as Kat and Deadeye, the two friends who help Audrey find her way.

Joy Ride also features some notable supporting roles from Ronny Chieng, David Denman, Annie Mumolo, and Chris Pang. The supporting cast only adds to this great chemistry with smaller, yet pivotable, performances.

Joy Ride is directed by Adele Lim, who also served as a writer the acclaimed films Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Lim brings a sharp eye for comedy and a keen understanding of Asian-American culture to the film while never forgetting where this cultures originated. The result is a film that is both funny and thought-provoking, and that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. Furthermore, having such a diverse group of verifiable talent producing, only increases the odds of success thanks to names such as Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (who also serves as one of the writers), Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Josh Fagen, and a couple of others.

Joy Ride does a great job of capturing the beauty of Asia, with the film’s stunning visuals making the audience feel like they are right there on the road trip with the characters. This film is full of raunchy humor and over-the-top gags, but it also has its fair share of heartfelt moments. It explores themes of identity, belonging, family, and culture with humor and honesty. It also showcases the diversity and beauty of China, as well as the struggles and joys of being Asian-American. It also tackles some serious issues such as adoption, racism, and sexism with sensitivity and nuance.

If you’re looking for a great comedy with a lot of heart, then I highly recommend Joy Ride. It’s a film that will make you laugh, cry, and think. It’s a must-see for fans of road trip comedies, Asian-American cinema, and raunchy humor like Bridesmaids (2011), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), and The Hangover trilogy.

You can see one of the best comedies of 2023 in theaters starting this Friday, July 7th with early showtimes on Thursday evening.