Worth: $16.50
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, Matt Damon, Miley Cyrus
Intro:
...an amiable charmer...
The Coen Brothers, that iconic duo of Joel and Ethan Coen, have been making original and memorable films since 1984’s Blood Simple. News of their creative partnership ending after 2018’s surreal western, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, sent shockwaves through the industry. Surely the creative team that brought us the likes of Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing and The Big Lebowski (and No Country for Old Men, and True Grit, and Barton Fink, and-) wouldn’t throw in the towel, right? Sadly, it seemed to be the case. Joel knocked out a well-received adaptation of Macbeth in 2021 and Ethan has now released his first solo effort, Drive-Away Dolls. The good news is twofold. Firstly, the brothers are gonna work it out with an upcoming collaborative effort, and a horror film to boot, shooting soon. Oh, and Drive-Away Dolls? Pretty bloody charming, if a bit slight.
Drive-Away Dolls tells the story of mismatched lesbian mates, toey free spirit Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and savvy, bookish introvert, Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan). Jamie is bemoaning the rather messy end of yet another relationship and Marian is in dire need of a holiday (and a steamy root, just quietly), so the pair embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee. The problem? The vehicle they’re using has hidden within its trunk a deep, dark secret that some dangerous men are very keen on getting back. Before long, things take a surreal, dangerous turn.
Drive-Away Dolls is an odd little flick. If you didn’t already know it was directed by a Coen Brother, you might opine it was the work of a younger filmmaker trying to ape the early Coens’ style, as there are more than a few shades of Raising Arizona here. The opening minutes in particular are so goofy and glib, you might be forgiven for sinking into your seat and wondering what on earth is going on. Happily, the film quickly improves, turning into a brisk and engaging road trip adventure with impeccable performances from both Qualley and Viswanathan, and a capable supporting cast that includes Beanie Feldstein, Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal and Miley Cyrus.
At 84 minutes, Drive-Away Dolls certainly doesn’t outstay its welcome, and it actually manages both laugh-out-loud moments and genuine tenderness in its relatively brisk runtime. Imbued with lashings of screwball comedy and ’90s-style, horny slacker humour, Drive-Away Dolls is an amiable charmer from one half of a deservedly revered directing team. Will it change your life? No, but it’s almost certain to put a relaxed smile on your dial, and that’s not to be underestimated.
