Crammed, heartily, full of sex, drugs and K-pop covers of Cardi B (song title hint: It’s not “Be Careful”), the new comedy “Joy Ride” rivals “Everything Everywhere All at Once” for sheer mania and a can-do spirit of whatever, let’s try this, too!
I tend to like movies that humans, as well as critics, describe as “filthy” whether they love it or hate it or feel in-between about it. I also like it when a brazen comedy doesn’t prioritize playing to the whitest, malest frat-house sensibility possible (aka “The Hangover”). So I’m terminally woke, obviously. It was fun writing for you.
In many ways, I prefer “Joy Ride” to “EEAAO,” this year’s merrily assaultive Oscar winner. Just a few short, long years ago, “Joy Ride’s” simple but sneakily heartfelt good-time mission — showcasing a predominantly Asian American ensemble, ready to rip, with all the right people behind the camera — would’ve been a mission: impossible. But then “Crazy Rich Asians” happened, among others, which was a canny multigenerational hit. Meanwhile, in the R-rated effrontery department, culturally specific Wild Comedies have a wonderful way of getting around just fine with a little marketing behind it.
