Movie Review: Drive Away Dolls
***Premise: In search of a fresh start, two women (played by actors Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan) embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, Florida. However, things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.***
When the trailer for “Drive Away Dolls” was released, it looked like a fun, fast paced road trip populated with quirky characters and surprising situations. This seemed like a return to familiar territory for writer/director Ethan Coen, who, along with his brother, Joel Coen, has made many great crime and comedy films, dating all the way back to “Blood Simple” (1984). Sadly, after seeing “Drive Away Dolls” not long ago, I can honestly say the marketing is better than the actual film itself.
Overall, “Drive Away Dolls” is a disappointing film that tries to get by with hollow characterizations. For a film that has two females in the lead roles, you would think that it would take pride in the female experience and attempt to portray something that is interesting and meaningful. Coen and his wife/co-writer, Tricia Cooke, provide us with simple characters who are made up of purely sexual aspects. There’s nothing else to explore here, just sexual and crude humor. The end result is a self-indulgent film that stalls its intriguing narrative by basking in the sights and sounds of repetitive sexual experiences.
When it comes to “Drive Away Dolls,” an interesting comparison is “Poor Things” (2023), a highly acclaimed film that is in the running for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. “Poor Things” has an abundance of sex and nudity, way more than most studio films. However, the sexual aspects of “Poor Things” doesn’t derail its narrative; everything works in conjunction. “Poor Things” has interesting themes, powerful messages, characters who are always evolving, and a narrative that is precisely balanced. “Drive Away Dolls,” with its over utilization of sex and minimization of story, feels more like an experimental project than a planned out motion picture.
This begs the question: After all his experiences and excellence, how has Ethan Coen, a cinematic genius in his own right, (and one of my all time favorite filmmakers) created such a lifeless film? Well, Coen has a history of taking artistic risks with his stories; this is one of many things that I admire about him and his brother. However, when an artist takes a risk, it either works out greatly or works out terribly. Unfortunately, “Drive Away Dolls” is a case of unrealized potential, a far cry from what it could have been. Here’s to hoping that Coen’s next film is better, way better.
My Grade: D
