The film Drive Away Dolls seems like it should be great. It’s written and directed by Ethan Coen, a man known for his collaborative directing efforts with his brother Joel Coen on beloved films such as No Country for Old Men and Inside Llewyn Davis. The brothers have also collaborated on writing films like Fargo and The Big Lebowski. But after years of collaboration, the brothers decided to split and make films on their own. Drive Away Dolls is the first Ethan Coen film since that split. The film follows two lesbians, Jamie and Marian, as they take a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida. As they drive, they are unaware of the special cargo they accidentally ended up with and who is after it. Drive Away Dolls is your basic Coen crime comedy. Only it’s not as good.
There is one thing explicitly clear in the Coen brother split, we know what each brother brings to the table. Joel Coen’s first film after their split was The Tragedy of Macbeth, a stunning Macbeth adaptation. The film was dark, dramatic, and absolutely beautifully shot. The Tragedy of Macbeth also had no humor, which is a staple in many Coen brothers’ films. In comparison, we have Drive Away Dolls, a film that is all humor and no bite. When the brothers are together they make films that perfectly tow the line between comedy and drama. But apart? One makes a great drama film, and the other makes Drive Away Dolls.
Overall, the biggest tragedy of Drive Away Dolls is that it could have been great. All the parts are there, it’s the execution that’s the problem. Let’s start with the positives. The film has a star-studded cast and features mostly likeable performances, especially the characters Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan). They have the classic happy-go-lucky person vs up-tight person dynamic, and it’s quite cute. Also, in broad strokes, the plot is quite good. The plot device of having characters unknowingly end up with something they aren’t supposed to have can be really fun. For the first half of the movie, the viewer is unaware of what Jamie and Geraldine actually have in the back of the car. And it could have gone a sort of Repo Man or Pulp Fiction route with the contents of the briefcase. But instead, the contents of the briefcase are revealed. Even worse the contents of the briefcase are hyped up with these strange psychedelic sequences that end up looking out of place. On top of all that, the contents of the briefcase are a sex joke. Which brings us to the comedy of Drive Away Dolls. If you are not a fan of jokes revolving around sex don’t watch this movie. Almost every joke in the film and the plot itself revolve around sex.
Overall Drive Away Dolls is not a great movie, but it is kind of fun if you’re the right kind of person. And even if it isn’t the greatest, it’s always good to see more LGBT films being made. Despite its flaws, Drive Away Dolls is fun. It is certainly not a Coen classic, but it is a quick fun time. If you are looking for a good Coen brothers crime comedy with a similar plot, maybe go watch Burn After Reading instead.
3/5 STARS