A Raunchy Comedy’s Subtle Wisdom
Admittedly, I was suspicious of Joy Ride. The past few years have seen more and more Asian American films in typical Hollywood genres such as rom-coms, superhero blockbusters, and slow-burn dramas. Many have been excellent, some not so much, but in several of them I’ve noticed a recurring theme: a protagonist’s overidealized return to Asia. Joy Ride, a new film about an Asian American adoptee and her friends going to China, seemed primed to replay the trope.



















