It’s been said that friends are the family we choose. They’re the ones who know us best and who stick by us. When needed, they also challenge us to be our best selves. Joy Ride, a new comedy from Adele Lim, delivers on this theme.

We begin with Audrey (Ashley Park) and Lolo (Sherry Cola) meeting as children. As the only Asian kids in a fairly white neighborhood, Audrey’s adoptive parents hope they can bond. Turns out it doesn’t take much for them to become fast friends.

Fast-forward 25 years and they are leading completely different lives. Audrey is a high-achiever and a lawyer on the fast-track. Lolo is a free spirit and an aspiring artist. But they’re still fast friends. And when Audrey needs to make a trip to China for business, Lolo tags along as a translator.

While in country, they are joined by Lolo’s cousin, Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), and Audrey’s college roommate Kat (Stephanie Hsu), a famous actress. The squad is coming together to help Audrey close a big deal but soon it turns into a journey to find her birth mother. Along the way, she learns more about herself and what it means to find a place to belong.

During the summer season we often get wild and over-the-top comedies that become classics. In fact, it’s a hallmark of the summer season. It’s easy to see Joy Ride becoming that film of summer for 2023. The story was crafted in part by Lim with a final script from Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao. It’s a moving story with wild comedy sequences but also a surprisingly emotional third act.

Lim serves as director, creating an energetic and engaging film. I loved some of the chaotic comedy sequences and the way a number of things are cut together in one sequence, such as when the girls connect with a China league basketball team at a hotel. I also loved the K-Pop inspired musical number and sequence, which has a jaw-dropping closing sequence.

What drives the story is the performances. Park is a delight in the lead role. She plays more of the straight woman in the high comedy sequences, but the heart and deep emotion in the arc for her character in the third act brought the film home for me.

Meanwhile, Cola, Hsu and Wu are pure delight. They create unique and incredibly engaging characters. Cola and Hsu, in particular, are hilarious in a number of sequences. They have strong and delightful characters. While Wu’s Deadeye is one of the most surprising and engaging characters in the film.

Overall, I loved the journey here. I wanted a big, broad comedy and I got that. But I also got a story with a lot of heart. It’s a great and memorable journey that lives up to the name Joy Ride.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.