Director Adele Lim, an Emerson College graduate, keeps the gags rolling fast and furiously.

By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News

The girls-behaving-badly comedy, “Joy Ride,” sets the tone early, as two Asian youngsters meet on a playground and forge a lifelong friendship. One of them is insulted. So, the other offers the mouthy bigot an emphatic “F.U.” and a punch to the snout. The message first-time director Adele Lim is sending is to expect the unexpected. And to prepare to laugh out loud for 95 minutes.

She doesn’t disappoint, delivering the most unhinged comedy I’ve seen in a while. Certainly, much raunchier (in all the best ways) than the mildly amusing “No Hard Feelings,” which seems to be sucking up all the air because of Jennifer Lawrence’s nude scene. Sorry, Jen, but this film one-ups that film.

Sabrina Wu as Deadeye, Ashley Park as Audrey, Stephanie Hsu as Kat, and Sherry Cola as Lolo in a scene from the comedy “Joy Ride.” (Ed Araquel/Lionsgate)

Lurking within Lim’s bag of gags is a humongous vagina tattoo, explicit K-pop, and massive amounts of cocaine, presented in the same ribald vain as “The Hangover” and “Girls Trip.” Like the great Judd Apatow comedies, it appealingly blends humor and heart to maximum effect. Amid all the debauchery, drugs, and douchebags in “Joy Ride,” there is a sweet story about self-discovery and friendship that renders it irresistible.

An Emerson College alum, Lim co-wrote hits such as “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Raya and the Last Dragon.” She takes a writer’s approach in her direction, meaning she’s keyed in on character development and dialogue. The script never runs out of gas as it doles out the laughs between the four central characters and gives each something more substantial to do than just grab cheap guffaws or prop up the leading lady.

Stephanie Hsu as Kat, Sherry Cola as Lolo, Ashley Park as Audrey, and Sabrina Wu as Deadeye in a scene from “Joy Ride,” directed by Emerson College graduate Adele Lim. (Ed Araquel/Lionsgate)

The plot centers on four friends who travel to China on a business trip that turns into something else. “Most Likely to Succeed” Audrey (Ashley Park, “Emily in Paris”) is the main focus of the screenplay by “Family Guy” scribes Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao. The adopted daughter of white parents (Annie Mumolo and David Denman), Audrey, a lawyer, is quietly dealing with a cultural identity crisis.  

Joining her are: “Most Likely to be Arrested,” Lolo (Sherry Cola), a “body-positive artist” stuck in varying degrees of arrested development; Kat (Stephanie Hsu), Audrey’s college roommate turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s quirky and quiet cousin, whose earnestness is a welcome juxtaposition to the outrageous antics of the other three.

A rivalry over who is better friends with Audrey develops between Lolo and Kat. Personality and culture clashes ensue, as the women crisscross China finding themselves in precarious and hilarious situations. These include run-ins with hard-drinking businessmen and an American drug dealer, to a crazy night with players from the Chinese Basketball Association that gives new meaning to “penetrating the zone” and “double team.” A K-pop rendition of Cardi B’s “WAP” leads to the film’s most outrageous moment.

Like all road-trip flicks, the fallout is inevitable. Ditto for the predictable reconciliation. Still, “Joy Ride” manages to take you somewhere unexpectedly heartfelt. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Stephanie Hsu as Kat, Sabrina Wu as Deadeye, Ashley Park as Audrey, and Sherry Cola as Lolo in “Joy Ride,” a comedy directed by Emerson College graduate Adele Lim. (Ed Araquel/Lionsgate)

‘Joy Ride’

Rating: R for strong and crude sexual content, language throughout, drug content and brief graphic nudity.

Cast: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu

Director: Adele Lim

Writer: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong & Teresa Hsiao   

Running time: 95 minutes

Where to watch: In theaters Friday

Grade: B+