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Review: ‘Drive-Away Dolls’ is A B-Movie Delight, Sprinkled With Goofiness and Lots of Sex

February 21, 2024 Jordan Ruimy

The review embargo has lifted on Ethan Coen’s “Drive-Away Dolls.” 64 on Metacritic and 73% on Rotten Tomatoes. I had written a bit about it on social media, a few weeks ago — here are some elaborated thoughts:

The worst thing I can say about this film is that it’s not close to being top-tier Coen. The good news is that it’s a wildly entertaining tribute to b-movies, zany road trips, with a very retro vibe and absurdly quick pace (84 minutes). There are Coen-esque flairs here and there, but it’s goofier and more straight-shooting than most of their other comedies.

This is a comedy caper which follows the sexually loose Jamie (Margaret Qualley), coming off a breakup with a girlfriend, and her very timid friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan). In search of a fresh start, they decide to go on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but accidentally rent out a a gangster’s car with a valuable briefcase stashed in the trunk.

There’s over-the-top sex, violence and theatrics. The cast is great, and there are many noteworthy cameos. The problem is that there isn’t much substance to the whole thing, it’s very disposable — but it’s also just a good time at the movies. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan as the leads have chemistry to spare.

There is also a major obsession with the female body in this one. I’m actually not sure if that was Coen’s doing or Cooke’s, but it’s a very horny movie. Qualley’s Jamie is the promiscuous one, but she might also have a thing for Marian.

It’s all a little too slickly delivered, but it goes down easy. If anything this is more Tarantino-esque than Coen. Lots of lurid and pulpy twists and turns. It’s also rather simple in its storytelling, never too ambitious, and feels directed by filmmakers who seem to just want to have a good time making it.

So, yes, it’s not primo Coen, by any stretch, but I enjoyed it and it’s just a really fun time at the movies. Ari Wegner is the DP here and I really wished Coen regulars Delbonnel or Deakins could have lensed this one. It just doesn’t look the same. That depth-filled, and colourful, crispness to the frames is sorely missing. Coen and Cooke instead opted for a more grungy B-movie look. [B]

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