After a long and gruelling awards season of snubs, awkward presenters, and three-hour-long vanity projects, let us all take shelter in the cinema that truly matters. Lesbians in cars doing mischief.
Drive-Away Dolls can only be described as a theme park ride hopped up on sugar and a good time. With a break-neck run time of 84 minutes, it is the one-night stand that you won’t regret in the morning.
Bored after yet another break-up and horny as high hell, Jamie (Margaret Qualley) convinces the sullen Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) to join her on a road trip to Tallahassee. The pair decide to rent a car, but a healthy dose of mistaken identity leads them on a journey filled with poppy violence, a mysterious briefcase, and a whole lotta sex.
Drive Away Dolls was the surprise film at this year’s Glasgow Film Festival. As soon as the title appeared, a gasp rippled through the audience, and it carried on throughout as people laughed, cringed, and baulked at what they were seeing onscreen. It follows in the footsteps of Promising Young Woman, Springbreakers, and War Pony as a memorable Glasgow surprise film.
With brilliant supporting performances by Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, and Pedro Pascal, the cast is chock full of actors having the time of their lives.
This is Ethan Cohen’s first feature film without his brother Joel, but he hasn’t strayed too far from the nest. In Drive Away Dolls he collaborates with his wife, and long-time editor, Tricia Cooke who helms the screenplay.
The pair have created a riotous road movie hell-bent on making you leave the cinema with nothing short of a grin and a new perspective on the uses of a corkscrew.
Don’t read into it
Cohen has perfectly parodied his and his brother’s style to a tee. At every turn, there are inept criminals, over-the-top violence and Dutch angles to spare. Cooke’s script may take centre stage when talking about how utterly unhinged this film is, but Cohen’s direction is so fun to watch.
However, if you’re looking for a comedy with some deeper meaning in the footnotes, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Margaret Qualley plays the fast-talking, quickie-loving, southern butch. Geraldine Viswanathan is the highly-strung narrative foil that desperately needs to let off some steam. They play well off each other and are reminiscent of some classic odd pairings, but they work best when you don’t overthink it.
But a special shout-out goes to Beanie Feldstein, who may not boast a lengthy screen time, but what she lacks in time she makes up for in talent. My favourite Feldstein performances are when she is allowed to get irrationally angry. So you can guess I loved every second of her role as the ex-girlfriend with too many feelings.
There is of course a place in my heart for films that tackle hard-hitting issues. That exposes the true meaning of what it means to be human. That asks us to question our choices.
But sometimes I just want a brilliantly crafted d**k joke, and for that Drive Away Dolls has you covered.
Featured image credit: Universal Pictures International
Film and Tv Editor at Brig Newspaper. Currently studying Journalism and English at the University of Stirling
