Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Irish road trip has strong language, drinking, adult themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Joyride
What's the Story?
In JOYRIDE, solicitor Joy (Olivia Colman) is on route to take her newborn baby to be adopted by a close friend, before flying on holiday to recuperate. Her plans are derailed when her taxi is stolen by 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid), on the run with stolen charity money he's keeping safe from his father. As the two argue about where they're going, they find themselves on an unexpected journey that could change both their lives forever.
Is It Any Good?
This Irish drama is kept on track by the strong performances and natural chemistry between Colman and newcomer Reid. Joyride also has enough heart and humor to navigate its mature themes and potentially controversial take on motherhood through the occasional bumps in the road. Reid is a revelation as the multilayered Mully, showing great depth in his first feature role as a wayward teen with an old soul kept going by an impish glint and a sharp tongue. He calls Colman's Joy "Vodka Tonic" because that's what she orders at the bar, and the two give as good as they get in their slanging matches through the country roads.
There's a predictability to how the plot unfolds, and a danger of coming across judgmental toward Joy's decision to give up her child. But the story speeds along at an easy pace and the blossoming relationship between the mismatched leads never gets tired. There's a spikiness to the script and a spark to the interactions that means even as the roadblocks and the physical route start to make less sense, this is still a funny, warm, and watchable film that doesn't run out of gas.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Joyride approaches the subject of motherhood. How did it portray Joy's struggle? Can you think of other films that deal with a similar subject? What similarities and differences do you notice about the messages around motherhood?
Discuss the characters of Joy and Mully. What did they learn and grow to accept about themselves and others? What do you understand empathy and compassion to mean?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
The movie is structured around two familiar devices of a road trip and an odd couple. Can you think of other films that use either or both of these? How did this film compare?
How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 23, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : December 23, 2022
- Cast : Olivia Colman , Charlie Reid , Lochlann O'Mearáin
- Director : Emer Reynolds
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Sony Pictures Entertainment , Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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