Joyride

An enjoyable romp through the ever picturesque Irish countryside. Olivia Colman is as engagingly watch-worthy as ever playing Joy, the mother of a one-week-old baby. Having never wanted children of her own, Joy intends to give the baby away to her sister in an informal adoption arrangement. We meet Joy asleep in a taxi en route to deliver the baby to her sister.

Charlie Reid is the breakout talent as Mully, a young teen bereaved by the recent death of his mother, and whose father is a petty thief and general low-level scumbag. Reid is an absolute scene stealer throughout this film - and a taxi stealer when we first encounter him. He commandeers the vehicle not realising it has two sleeping passengers in the back seat in the form of Joy and her baby.

Some hilarity ensues. And a bit of weirdness. With a little darkness and a touch of tragedy thrown in. All against a beautifully shot County Kerry backdrop.

Although this film was released on Netflix in summer 2024, watching it evoked a bit of a Netflix-Christmas-movie vibe for me. It was a little cheesy, totally unbelievable and surprisingly emotional in places but, overall, a very pleasant hour-and-half's escape from real life.

Colman does a 'grand job so' delivering her performance in a very decent Irish accent. And seeing comedian Tommy Tiernan pop up in an unexpected cameo to randomly play the Home and Away theme tune on a penny whistle was an absolute bonus.

I'm surprised by the harshness of some of the other reviews. Although there are some fairly big-hitting themes touched on throughout the story, the film doesn't get into them in any depth. Likewise, there are potential sub-plots and character back stories that are hinted at, but not really explored in detail. Perhaps that has left some viewers feeling frustrated or a bit short-changed.

Overall, a very easy and enjoyable watch if you're looking for a bit of light, diversionary entertainment.

My Review- Joyride. . My Rating 9/10

Another impressive Irish film with yet another impressive and talented new actor 14 year old Charlie Reid from County Kildare .

I recently reviewed another recent movie An Irish Goodbye also mentioning it's teenage star Catherine Clinch another 14 year old as a future actor to watch out for .

I can say the same for Charlie Reid who plays Mully a bright young teenager who's father James played by Lochlann O'Mearáin is leading him down the wrong path. Young Mully's mother has recently died of cancer so he's at a very vulnerable point in his life where he could follow in his father's footsteps or go the right way." At a pub benefit to raise money for cancer in memory of his mother Mully can see his father wants to steal the money that's meant for charity so he steals it himself rather than let his Dad waste it .

He then steals a taxi rather with his father in pursuit and when he gets far enough away much to his surprise which is not a pleasant one finds that he has unwittingly kidnapped a drunken woman ,inappropriately named Joy plus her newborn baby .

Joy a Solicitor didn't want a baby ,didn't think she was still of childbearing age and doesn't even know who the father is ? The unnamed baby could have even been conceived on a drunken spree ,she wouldn't know .

Olivia Coleman plays Joy and delivers yet another superb performance her character roles just get better and better and she for me is right up there on my top ten list of contemporary Actresses in movies and television today .

I've watched her play Royalty, a serial killer, a mentally disturbed woman ,a socialite, a daughter caring for an ailing father, a wicked Godmother, Madam Thénardier in Les Miz a Detective and the list goes on , what next?

Her character is this film Joy is a solicitor who we first see in a drunken stupor asleep in the back of the stolen taxi with her unnamed baby which she is hoping to offload to her sister who lives miles away in Lanzarote , as she hasn't bonded with the baby at all .

This is where this joyful at times very humorous and very touching road trip begins with the 2 runaways Mully and Joy who at first seem such an unlikely pair but soon realise they have much in common as they negotiate the terms of their journey.

Young Mully has more maternal instinct in his little finger than Joy has in her whole body . Joy just want to move forward as she keeps telling Mully .

In a touching scene full of Irish charm Mully asks if the baby has a name ?

Joy doesn't reply then spies a robin which just happened to be a symbol for Mully's deceased mother.

Without knowing this Joy replies that the baby's name is Robin and we begin to see a thawing out of her character but not before arguments and insults on both sides . The chemistry between Olivia Coleman and young Charlie Reid is obvious from the beginning they must have really enjoyed working together.

Skilfully directed by Emer Reynolds from a screenplay by Ailbhe Keogan who also wrote the terrific television 2022 series Bad Sisters have created a very interesting and entertaining movie.

There were a few puzzling plot lines for me but I put that down to Irish blarney no fact checker required because this refreshingly is not based on any true events .

Beautifully Filmed in locations that include Tralee Kerry Airport and the beach at Ardfert in County Kerry Ireland Joyride for me was a joy to be sure to be sure to be sure ......

A heartwarming and bittersweet tale of two unlikely travelers who find solace in each other while on the run from their pasts. 13-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid) and uptight solicitor Joy (Olivia Colman) set out on a journey across the Irish countryside, learning to cope with unplanned disruptions and unexpected challenges.

Reynolds' direction is strong, capturing the beauty of the Irish landscape through the lens of cinematographer James Mather. The film is visually stunning, with breathtaking shots of the seaside and foggy hills. However, some of the more surreal moments in the film feel out of place and throw off the tone of the story.

But where "Joyride" truly shines is in the performances of Reid and Colman. Mully and Joy are both grieving the loss of their mothers and struggling to find their place in the world. They form a bond that helps them cope with their pain and move forward, learning to rely on each other when other parental figures have failed them.

Overall, "Joyride" is a charming and emotional film that manages to balance its heavy themes with moments of levity and joy. While it may not be as smooth as some of the best feel-good movies, its unwieldy charm and powerful performances make for a memorable journey.

I enjoyed the varied pace and well played characters. The young man was a convincing actor and his character, Mully, had a good heart. The conflicted Joy was performed truthfully by Olivia Coleman, although the accent slipped once or twice. She was only about 47 when she played Joy, an age when many women are still capable of conceiving a baby! The father was a little two dimensional, fixated on the acquisition of money, not being a loving parent, and seemingly not grieving his deceased wife. The story was filled with many of the contradictions and tribulations common in life. It was genuine to those dichotomies and still had a hopeful ending.

I watched this on my flight home from England, and I cried so many times just from being so emotionally invested. It was charming, raw, and endearing. It was a real testimony to how humans of any age need someone they can lean on and trust. That someone just supporting you can get you through. I found this to be a beautiful, heartfelt film. Olivia was AMAZING as always, and I wept watching her struggle to let her guard down and to let herself welcome love. I don't understand the low reviews, unless you just do not understand what the story was trying to portray. There was a wholesome juxtaposition of a young boy forced to care for himself and be tough, while deep down missing his loving mother..and a woman forced into motherhood, unsure that she has what it takes to give her baby the love and care she needs. I found it beautiful in how simple it was.