Joy
Ride (2001)
For anyone who has seen Steven Spielberg's Spine-tingling
debut "Duel," which he made for TV, "Joy Ride" will
seem like a welcome update to that film. At least for
the first hour or so. After that it kinda grinds to
a typical and perfunctory conclusion that seems tacked
on and pointless. This, of course, leads to the inevitable
cliched Hollywood ending that leaves wide-open space
for a sequel. It's a shame too, because filmmaker John
Dahl, who has had far too many of his good films debut
on cable, begins here on the right foot, bringing us
a film that could easily entrench him in the cult celebrity
status of the likes of many modern cinematic icons.
Dahl, who previously helmed films like "Red Rock West"
and "The Last Seduction," starts this film with the
kind of Hitchcockian tension and claustrophobia we expect.
The casting of Steve Zahn proves to be ingenious. The
script calls for a character who could talk another
into the most unimaginable bullshit - and Zahn performs
with perfection. We have no trouble buying into the
"yeah right" plot points in the film because Zahn is
simply magnificent here. If Oscars were truly awarded
for pure acting talent, Zahn would be a shoe-in because
it is only by sheer acting fortitude that he allows
us to buy the ridiculous exposition and plot set-up
here. Sure, his fellow actor, cutie Paul Walker, helps
a bit and Dahl's direction is right on the money, but
this is Zahn's film all the way.
The premise is basic, a couple of guys on a road trip
buy an old CB radio for fun and then proceed to fuck
around with truckers, talking like women and even setting
up a meeting with one, to which they are no-shows. This
sets off a nightmare of cat and mouse as the trucker
attempts to get back at them. Along the way, also, they
pick up girlfriend Leelee Sobieski and she becomes entangled
in the plot.
The problem with "Joy Ride" is it's inevitable, repulsive,
cliched ending which finds Sobieski the victim of some
of the most sickening violence against women to occur
in a film lately. It's even worse that sweetie Leelee
seems so very young. It just comes across as typical
and dated. The last 20 minutes of the film are nothing
more than nauseating and depressing when compared to
the taunt, interesting and character-driven first hour
of the film. And therein lies the whole problem. There
is no decent payoff here. And the final scene is, in
fact, laughable. It's the most glaring set-up for a
sequel to be seen yet.
Still, "Joy Ride" is worth seeing, I cannot deny that.
Zahn is a powerhouse. Dahl makes 2/3rds of a good film.
And Walker and Sobieski certainly don't hurt the old
eyes. And yes, their acting is quite acceptable as well.
But there's a real missed opportunity for... something
here. The tension that permeates the beginning of the
film, the strange sexual tension in the film that is
started and then, just as quickly, dropped, and the
character force of the main protagonists, make for some
unique and solid moments in the film's first hour. It's
too bad that, for some reason, Dahl abandons them for
typical horror cliches and violent nonsense at the end.
Notes:
During production the film was known as "Squelch."
This is the forth film since 1995 to be entitled "Joyride,"
albeit this version splits the title word in two.
Apparently, three separate endings were shot for the
film.
Matthew Kimbrough voices the trucker, who sounds like
Sam Elliot on (even more) ludes to me.
This film was wrapped in early 2000 and then sat on
the shelf for over a year.
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Report
Card
Script:
B+
Acting: A
Cinematography\Lighting: A-
Special Effects\Make Up: A
Music: A
Final
Grade: B+
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