Drive-Away Dolls Movie Review

Drive-Away Dolls

Synopsis: Given the job of returning a "Drive-away" car back to it's owner, BFF's Jamie (Qualley) and Marian (Viswanathan) embark on an unexpected road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.

Director: Ethan Coen

Stars: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan & Beanie Feldstein

Runtime: 1 hour 24 mins

Genre: Comedy Road Trip

IMDb : Click Here

RT: Click Here

Ethan Coen (Of Coen Brothers fame) decided to fly solo on this movie, with his wife Tricia Cooke who co-penned the script. I'm not sure whether it's because this is not a Coen Brothers movie in the classic sense or whether I was just not the target audience but Drive-Away Dolls was a big disappointment.

Before we go any further just for the record I'm a heterosexual white male but I didn't like this movie because it's just not a good movie. I'm not saying it's a bad movie for the sake of wanting to bash a movie about Lesbian women. Just Sayin!

Anyway, let's break it down...

Story and Plot

The premise as laid out above on paper works well, but I just wasn't invested in the lead characters and their story. For starters I know they say opposites attract (even with friends) but these girls could not be more different and I had a hard time convincing myself they were BFF's. They have nothing in common. 

For a movie who's runtime is only 84 mins, this movie dragged. I had heard good things and was looking forward to watching it but it just didn't deliver for me. One of the main gripes I have is the movie doesn't really know what it wants to be, as a result is a tonal mess. From the pretty violent opening scene I didn't know whether to laugh or wince.

It's clearly marketed as a comedy, and whilst there were a few titters here and there, thinking about it there were more tits than titters. (Lesbian horniness is central to certainly Jamie's story, so expect a fair amount of making out and sex but it's done in a light-hearted manner). Anyway, I saw the movie in a pretty crowded predominately female audience and you could have heard a pin drop for most of the film.  

As a road-movie it felt messy with sloppy pacing and there just wasn't any feeling of tension (even in comedy's there should be tension) as the criminally inept goons closed in on the girls. Finally when the contents of movies McGuffin (a beaten up metal briefcase) are revealed, the director at least for my money was more aiming for a cheap laugh than to deepen the mystery. 

Cast

Margaret Qualley (daughter of Andie McDowell) and last seen in Poor Things (2023) grew up in North Carolina but her Texan drawl (at least to these British ears) is at times indecipherable. She is clearly a star on the rise though and had a blast playing the socially free always horny Jamie. 

Geraldine Viswanathan most notable so far for John Cena's daughter in Blockers (2018), is also a star who clearly has a bright future. She does well as the button down (or should that be buttoned up?) prim-and-proper Marian. 

Beanie Feldstein could have stolen the movie as Jamie's partner Suki if she had had more to do. As it is she is left very much on the side lines. 

The movie also features cameos from A-Listers such as Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon and Colman Domingo, but their roles are so minor (Okay Domingo plays a bigger part as The Chief - head of the goons), I'm scratching my head to think of any other reason that they were cast than to shove them on the poster for marketing. 

Joey Slotnick and C.J Wilson as the goons chasing the girls could have been a great bumbling double act if they had a decent line to say. 

Bill Camp (The Queen's Gambit) as the drive-away rental agent Curlie was actually my favourite character, despite also being a minor role. 

Sound and Spectacle

Not a huge amount to say on this apart from some trippy LSD style sequences that are sprinkled throughout the film for some inexplicable reason. I'm sure there is a reason but I can't be bothered to find out.

On screen Action

For a road movie where our heroines are being chased there is precious little action other than some dust ups with the goons and their boss The Chief (Domingo).

Music and Score

No disrespect to Carter Burwell but I can't even remember the score or any of the music. 

Despite likeable turns by it's lead duo this is a woefully unfunny road movie that is a tonal car crash. 

Verdict  - One to Miss