JOY RIDE (2023)

Directed By: Adele Kim

Written By: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsaio 

Story By: Adele Kim, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsaio 

Cinematography: Paul Yee

Editor: Nena Erb

Cast: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu, Stephanie Hsu, Timothy Simons, Ronny Chaing, Lori Tan Chinn, Annie Mumolo, David Denman, Desmond Chiam, Meredith Hagner, Daniel Dae Kim

Follows four Chinese-American friends as they bond and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while they travel through China in search of one of their birth mothers.


The film does feel like the same kind of humor as the television show BROAD CITY only abroad in the east. Instead of two roads, it’s four though there is a main contingent of two in the middle. 

It seems like it strives to be like the movie GIRL’S TRIP to a degree. It has that same type of energy but has way more set-ups for there to be madness. 

Just Like that film though everyone seems to get their moments and is on Equal footing as there is no real star and while in that film Tiffany Haddish became the standout. Here there isn’t one really as again they all have their moments and especially more on the shocking Side. As the film is raunchy. 

It’s Nice to see it break the wall if it is a female-driven comedy and an Asian American leading ladies. Who break the mood of the stereotypical roles they usually are portrayed or cast. Going at it with full gusto.

While it makes its points about culture and points out some issues. It also is more about entertainment. 

It’s A Nice follow-up for actress Stephanie Tsu coming off her recent Academy Award best-supporting actress Nomination with another memorable noteworthy role. Though Not for its dramatics 

It feels a bit like the first AMERICAN PIE for that summer shocking comedy for a specific audience that grows bigger than Its demographic. That seems to come from nowhere. Yet charms and excites the audience. Even when at times you can see where it is going.

Grade: B

THE BOSS (2016)

Directed By: Ben Falcone
Written By: Steve Mallory, Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone
Cinematography: Julio Macat 
Editor: Craig Alpert

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Ella Anderson, Tyler Labine, Peter Dinklage, Kathy Bates, Cecily Strong, Kristen Schaal, Annie Mumolo, Dax Shepard, Ben Falcone, Margo Martindale, Michael McDonald, Cedric Yarbrough 

A titan of industry is sent to prison after she’s caught insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.


A kind of comedic take on money managers and lifestyle icons. That is a pure comedy even if at times it might come off as a spoof that thinks It’s a satire. 

This is one of those films that checks your brain at the door. As it is silly and never truly takes itself seriously and that is what is enjoyable about the film. You know what you are going to get. while you enjoy how you get there. 

Another fact of the fun is that it’s another role for Melissa McCarthy where her character is silly but not stupid. So that there is a brain in her character and can be witty while doing over-the-top physical comedy. Surprisingly one of her better films where she isn’t annoying or gets tired of her character swiftly. 

Though not one of her most memorable comedies. I think this is truly an unsung movie and performance and put it up as a favorite and one of her better ones.

She is the center of attention but Kristen Bell is the one who has more of the story and who you root for. Whereas McCarthy is the one who breaks it all up with her behavior and bad decisions. As she lets loose and lets everything fly. Mrs. Bell is more the straight woman with the responsibilities and gets more of a romantic storyline to boot 

As the comedy is sedate yet can be raunchy as it is another film where half the fun is watching at times the child characters act more responsibly than the adults but also watching kids behaving badly and with the foul language they shouldn’t even know. 

Having Peter Dinklage here as the villain is a stroke of genius as he truly gets to cut up and be just as silly. 

The film has a sweetness that Even when the film passes over into rated R, territory.  It feels a little shocking but tries to stay in line with a more general audience feeling.

GRADE: C+

BAD MOMS (2016)

 

BADMOMS

Written & Directed By: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Cinematography By: Jim Denault
Editor: Emma E. Hickox &  James Thomas 


Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Annie Mumolo, Jay Hernandez, Clark Duke, Wendell Pierce, Oona Laurence, Emjay Anthony, David Walton, Wanda Sykes

Amy has a seemingly perfect life – a great marriage, over-achieving kids, a beautiful home and a career. However, she’s overworked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she’s about to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities – going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence – putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn and her clique of devoted perfect moms.

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JOY (2015)

joy1Directed By: David O. Russell
Written By: David O. Russell & Annie Mumolo
Cinematography By: Linus Sandgren
Editor: Jay Cassidy, Sam Cross, Christopher Tellefsen & Alan Baumgarten 


Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Robert DeNiro, Virigina Madsen, Elizabeth Rohm, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rosellini, Dascha Polanco, Susan Lucci, Donna Mills, Melissa Rivers, Drena DeNiro 

*Please note that some trivia and facts have been republished from imdb among other sources In this review*

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