Joy Ride is rude, crude, and crass yet highly enjoyable, with laugh-out-loud moments throughout. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
Joy Ride was released in theaters across the United States on July 5, 2023. The film stars Ashley Park (Audrey Sullivan), Stephanie Hsu (Kat), Sherry Cola (Lolo), Desmond Chiam (Clarence), David Denman (Joe Sullivan), Sabrina Wu (Deadeye), Alexander Hodge (Todd), Chris Pang (Kenny), and Annie Mumolo (Jane Sullivan). The film was written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao, and Adele Lim, who also directed it. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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Joy Ride Movie Quotes
Joy Ride Parents Guide
In Joy Ride: When Audrey’s business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the help of Lolo, her childhood best friend, Kat, a college friend, and Deadeye, Lolo’s eccentric cousin. Their epic, no-holds-barred 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 Age Rating Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what parents need to know about the age rating of the movie before letting their younger children watch Joy Ride.
Language: Joy Ride contains extremely harsh language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include: f*ck, sh*t, b*tch, a**h*le, p*&&y, d*ck, wh*re, t*tty, d*mn, and phrases like “Jesus Christ.”
Mature Content: Other than the strong language in the film, the sexual and drug content are the other big lookouts for parents. There are scenes that include threesomes, where the act is shown, as well as other sexually related scenes with brief nudity. There is also a scene that shows a female’s genitals, revealing what the movie calls a “p*&&y tattoo.” Characters are shown drinking alcohol and becoming intoxicated, puking on other characters. There is also another scene that shows characters taking drugs such as pills and cocaine and hiding drugs, even hiding cocaine in their anus. The movie doesn’t contain much violence; however, there is a scene that shows a throat being slit, but it was only a movie scene being shot.
Age Rating of Joy Ride: Lionsgate’s Joy Ride has an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (Motion Picture Association rating) for strong and crude sexual content, language, drug content, and brief graphic nudity, and the parental guidelines advisory recommends it for mature audiences, an adult audience, young adults, teens, and older kids aged 17 and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or a legal guardian (adult guardian) is highly suggested for a younger audience (young viewers) under 17 years of age in this R-rated movie for adult material. The minimum age recommendation is 17 years old; it is not suitable for younger viewers.
Overall Thoughts
One of the standout features of the 2023 movie Joy Ride is how it seamlessly weaves Asian culture into the plot and characters. From the vibrant traditional dresses worn by the girls during a festival scene to the delicious-looking street food they sample while on their road trip, the film truly celebrates the richness and diversity of Asian culture. It’s refreshing to see Hollywood movies highlight cultures that have historically been underrepresented or stereotyped in mainstream media.
Joy Ride does a great job of showing how culture can play an important role in shaping the experiences and relationships of the characters. The film acknowledges the cultural differences and similarities between the girls and how they all bring their own unique perspectives and backgrounds to the table.
Along with the Asian inclusion in Joy Ride, it is also a powerful depiction of women supporting women. It’s refreshing to see such positive and empowering female relationships on screen. From helping each other overcome obstacles to offering emotional support during tough times, the female characters in the film showcase the strength that comes from women supporting women.
Joy Ride is unapologetically crude and raunchy. There are moments when viewers will find themselves cringing at the sheer vulgarity of the jokes, but at the same time, they can’t help but laugh along with the cast. The comedic timing of the actresses is impeccable, and the way they bounce off each other in each scene is a testament to their on-screen chemistry. It’s evident that these actresses genuinely had a blast making this film, and their infectious energy will have viewers hooked from start to finish.
If you’re someone who enjoys humor that’s a bit on the wild side, then Joy Ride is the movie for you. But be warned, this isn’t a film for the faint of heart. The jokes are dirty, and the language is explicit. But if you can handle the crudeness, you’ll find yourself thoroughly entertained by this all-Asian female-cast film.
