Joy Ride takes a group of Asian friends on what was meant to be a business trip to China, runs them through some nutty situations in China and Korea, and winds up bringing strength to their friendships. The movie is full of raunchy sex jokes and over the top situations.

Joy Ride begins with the childhood of Audrey (Ashley Park as an adult) and Lolo (Sherry Cola as an adult). Lolo’s parents were Chinese. Audrey was adopted by a white couple and came from China. They were the only two Asian girls in school and grew up looking out for each other.

Adult Audrey is a lawyer. Lolo is an aspiring artist who lives in Audrey’s garage. Audrey is set to go to China to close a deal that will make her a partner in her law firm if she pulls it off. Lolo is going along as her translator.

Lolo brings along Deadeye (Sabrina Wu). Deadeye is a member of Lolo’s family – I wasn’t clear about how. Deadeye is nonbinary or perhaps transmasc, and definitely not interested in all the good looking men they run into along the way.

When they get to China they pick up Kat (Stephanie Hsu). She was Audrey’s college roommate but is now a well known actress in China. She’s engaged to a man but hasn’t had sex with him (after 3 years!) and is horribly horny. Actually they are all pretty horny except for Deadeye.

They meet Audrey’s business person in a bar, get drunk, do crazy stuff, get thrown out, take a train to find Audrey’s birth mother, get thrown off, ride in a bus with a famous basketball team Lolo knew, get thrown off, hitchhike to Lolo’s grandmother’s (Lori Tan Chinn) place. Well, you’re starting to get the picture, right? They create a lot of mayhem and madness.

Eventually they cause so many problems for themselves they turn on each other with blame and anger. They go back home thinking their lives are ruined and their friendship is over.

But it’s a comedy, so it won’t have a sad ending. That’s how Dae (Daniel Dae Kim) gets worked into the plot for a short bit.

Adele Lim directed Joy Ride. She also had a hand in creating the story the screenplay was based on.

The film is streaming on Peacock, but can be rented in various places such as YouTube, Prime, Google Play, and more.