Joyride

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Joyride

Released Dec 23, 2022

1h 34m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

51%

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45 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

JOYRIDE follows 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid), who, after fleeing his father, steals a taxi and is shocked to find a woman, Joy (Olivia Colman), in the back seat with a baby. Joy has decided to give her child away to a friend, and Mully needs some distance from his debt-ridden dad, who’s after the cash Mully has with him. And so two lovable rogues -- a complicated middle-aged mother and a troubled adolescent -- go on a journey across Ireland, gradually finding in each other the friendship, love and learning they never knew they needed.

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Critics Consensus

Olivia Colman's performance is enough to carry Joyride over a few miles of credulity-straining incident, but this rickety road trip runs out of fuel long before it reaches its final destination.

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Whelan Barzey

Time Out

It’s only fitting that Emer Reynolds’ Joyride opens in a bustling Irish bar, because suspending disbelief for this madcap caper definitely requires the kind of open-mindedness that only multiple Guinnesses will provide.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 25, 2023

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Tugs at your heartstrings, but you know nothing bad is really going to happen.

Jan 18, 2023

Full Review

Matthew Jackson

AV Club

It might not break any plot molds, and it doesn’t quite come together as neatly as you’d hope by the end, but thanks to Colman’s shining presence, it’s a pleasant journey all the same.

Rated: B

Jan 9, 2023

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Gemma Creagh

Film Ireland Magazine

An impressive drama debut from director Emer Reynolds, this film is certainly one that needs to be experienced on the big screen. Joyride is beautiful, stylish and sneakily soulful.

Jun 20, 2025

Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Thankfully, Colman and her young co-star make such an engaging duo that you stay along for the trip, even when the film loses its way.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 16, 2025

Full Review

Laney Gibbons

Loud and Clear Reviews

Overall, Joyride is an enjoyable watch that brings forth some important topics and certainly shows the audience some incredible cast performances.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 3, 2024

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Louisa K

Loved this movie! Real and raw. The acting was terrific and Charlie Reed is phenomenal! This lad is so talented. Made a life long fan out of me. Such a well written movie. Brilliant cast 👏👏

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/25

Full Review

Jacqui C

Pretty good but I hated some of the scenes with the dolls head on the car etc

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/25

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John A

Honestly, that was beautiful. Nothing wrong with that at all, completely uplifting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

Full Review

Karen B

Ok movie some scenes could have been taken out.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/09/24

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phil h

I liked it but I think it is more of a drama to me as an American.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/03/24

Full Review

Alan W

Resurfacing on streaming after it came and went from the cinemas in 2022, this is your typically heart-warming, inoffensive (but slightly raunchy) Irish comedy-drama where two different people are forced together on a road trip where life lessons are learnt and an unlikely friendship is forged. Charlie Reid's mouthy teenager Mully has just lost his mother and while running away from his bad dad, Lochlann O'Mearain's James, inadvertently 'kidnapped' Olivia Colman's middle-aged solicitor Joy and her newborn baby whom she plans to offload to someone else before taking off to Lanzarote. How Ailbhe Keogan's script then unfolds is predictable and unremarkable. They bicker and make up, they try to escape each other but all roads lead them back together somehow, no matter how unrealistic or contrived that plotting is, set against an Ireland full of folksy people everywhere. Straddling sentimentality and upbeat cheekiness, Emer Reynolds, who loves an aerial shot and knows how to use them, keeps things moving briskly enough but the only reason why this is watchable is down to the charming and warm presence of its central leading duo who manage to lift the very conventional material up. Your heart can't help but go to cocky yet vulnerable Mully while the very English Colman playing Irish proves that at this point in her career, she can do anything and I'd probably watch her read a telephone book.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

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Emer Reynolds

Director

Olivia Colman

Joy

Charlie Reid

Mully

Lochlann O'Mearáin

James

Olwen Fouéré

Sideline Sue

David Pearse

Singer

Joyride: Exclusive Movie Clip - Agree to This Plan

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Joyride: Trailer 1

2:03

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Synopsis

JOYRIDE follows 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid), who, after fleeing his father, steals a taxi and is shocked to find a woman, Joy (Olivia Colman), in the back seat with a baby. Joy has decided to give her child away to a friend, and Mully needs some distance from his debt-ridden dad, who’s after the cash Mully has with him. And so two lovable rogues -- a complicated middle-aged mother and a troubled adolescent -- go on a journey across Ireland, gradually finding in each other the friendship, love and learning they never knew they needed.

Director: Emer Reynolds
Producer: Tristan Lynch, Aoife O'Sullivan
Screenwriter: Ailbhe Keogan
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Screen Ireland, Subotica, Ingenious Media, Embankment Films
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 23, 2022
Runtime: 1h 34m

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