Drive-Away Dolls Movie Review

Outside some skilled acting, I can only imagine my feelings towards this film as being a bit juvenile, somewhat frivolous and often preposterous. It is over the top in almost every scenario that it touches upon. ​

While it may be too much for the average movie-goer, it would most likely be exciting to those looking for something totally different than we always get because it sure is that. Some “far out” psychedelic interludes are finally explained in one scene. Unfortunately, because of how often they appear and before you realize what’s going on during them, they come off as flaky and bizarre.

This was to be a comedic storyline that send two friends, Jamie, played by Margaret Qualley from “Poor Things” and “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” and Marian, played by Geraldine Viswanathan from “Janet King” on a road trip to discover themselves and find a new beginning in life.

There are moments of comedy. Still, the film’s tone comes off very erratic when telling us about the characters and what they’re attempting to do. What it seems to go for, more than anything, is shock value. I wouldn’t usually say this, but the film delves very deeply into the sexual history of the two main characters.

Jamie has had a lot of girlfriends; Marian has not. Jamie wants to change this for Marian, pushing her into situations her bestie is uncomfortable with. Jamie talks Marian into taking this expedition with her to Tallahassee.

A car neither of them owns must be driven to a particular city. They drive that car for a company to that city. Free automobile. New start. Yay! Perfect. However, unbeknownst to them, the vehicle has something inside of it that someone else wants. This will cause these two women much trouble… especially if discovered.

When the film opens, we see actor Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Kingsman: The Golden Circle) with a case in his hands. Not long after, he is headless due to the fact that what is in this case is important to people who do not want these items found. As we knew it would happen, the girls do find the case. Against Marian’s more reserved nature, she wants to let the case be, but Jamie opens it, and they’re astonished by what they see. In one scene, you’re also stunned by what they’ve seen, especially since it’s something they can use… and do.

The lesbian scenes go deeper than I thought they would and further than necessary. However, since scenes between two women in love aren’t usually at the forefront in LGBTQ movies, it could be seen as a positive.

Be that as it may, they seemed to be used so often that it felt like there was a movie A and movie B going on. There’s a mystery having to do with the case, and there’s a love story.

Being an Ethan Coen movie, I expected more than what seemed to be work from a new filmmaker I was watching. Ethan usually makes movies with his brother Joel. With this, he directed and wrote it with his wife, Tricia. Perhaps Ethan needed his brother Joel to help with the direction that Ethan overlooked.

I didn’t hate Drive-Away Dolls but didn’t love it like I thought I would. Based on the trailer and who was involved, I had hoped for more, but I hope you see it and decide for yourself; however, you don’t need to spend the money to see it at the theater. I’d save it for a cable watch at home.

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