By now, we know what to expect from a Coen Brothers film. But what about a film from just a Coen Brother? That’s the question answered with the new film Drive-Away Dolls, which comes from Ethan Coen and his wife, Tricia Cooke.

The film was originally slated for a late 2023 release but got pushed to February. It’s got all the elements you’d expect with the Coen name—a strong cast, a crime gone wrong set up, and some quirky characters. But the sum of the parts in this case just doesn’t quite add up to a hit.

In the film, we jump back to 1999 in Philadelphia. In the opening, a man (Pedro Pascal) is waiting for someone who never arrives. When he gives up and leaves, things don’t go as planned. This kicks off a misadventure that quickly draws in a couple of girls, Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan).

Jamie is something of a free spirit. That makes her fun at parties but gets her in hot water with her girlfriend (Beanie Feldstein). Soon, she finds herself with a black eye and in need of a place to live. Meanwhile Marian is a bit more strait-laced. She works a job she doesn’t care for, fending off advances from co-workers who don’t really know who she is.

When Marian decides she needs a break and wants to head to Tallahassee, Florida, Jamie decides she should tag along. She suggests they take a drive-away, a cheap vehicle that needs to be transported to a specific location. They happen to arrive to request one from Curlie (Bill Camp) at just the time he’s gotten a call about an urgent run to Tallahassee. He mistakes the request and sends the girls on their way.

When his client (Colman Domingo) arrives with his couriers (Joey Slotnick and C.J. Wilson), things go off track quickly. The girls don’t realize they’re in for more than they thought on this quick trip to Florida.

There is a lot of potential in the set up. As I mentioned, the cast and basic premise are solid. I liked some of the dialogue and how the characters were drawn. And the overall arc of the narrative feels like the kind of winning formula we’ve seen from Ethan and Joel Coen in the past. But it doesn’t quite come together here.

There’s a large swath of the narrative that is something of a love story. Your interest in that, and the twist on what the girls are transporting, will likely somewhat impact how you feel about this journey. More than that, there are some choices made in terms of editing and quick transitions alluding to the big reveal that don’t always work and sometimes feel like they drop in out of nowhere.

What works for me is Qualley and Viswanathan, who are strong performers that seem to be having fun. In fact, most of the cast seems to be having fun. We get a cameo from Matt Damon that has its moments as well. But the overall arc of the story doesn’t quite come together. Ultimately the film doesn’t hit as it could have despite some of the strong ingredients and elements. This ends up being a misfire for me.

Drive-Away Dolls opens wide in theaters today.

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.