https://blackgirlnerds.com/review-drive-away-dolls-is-a-wild-and-thrilling-rom-com-through-a-queer-lens/

I did not adjust my expectations to the right setting for this one. The trailers gave clues but in no way prepared me for the fun yet openly sexual ride that is Drive-Away Dolls. The film embraces its rom-com cliche moments while remaining an enjoyably over-the-top queer love story.

Co-writers Ethan Cohen and Tricia Cooke have brought together a great cast with an ode to queer history and the lesbian bars of old. Buckle up because Drive-Away Dolls, or Drive-Away Dykes as it is referred to at the end, will have you laughing often, confused sometimes, and entertained always.

Focus Features’ new film is about love, adventure, friendship, murder, intrigue, and community. The film follows Jamie (Margaret Qualley), a free spirit deflated by her breakup with her girlfriend Sukie (Beanie Feldstein), and her stick-to-the-basics best friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), a no-nonsense type who hasn’t been so lucky in love. In search of a much needed respite, the two set out on a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida, to visit Marian’s aunt. Things go off the rails when they become mixed up with a group of criminals during a classic car mix-up that results in stolen “goods.”

The film boasts a diverse cast in age, background, and acting prowess. Fans will enjoy the brief moments with Pedro Pascal and recent Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. They will laugh at the random addition of Matt Damon and Miley Cyrus and learn to care about what happens to Curlie, played by Bill Camp. Feldstein, who I haven’t seen since Booksmart, is a welcomed addition to the film with her comedic timing and brass balls approach to her cop character.

Qualley and Viswanathan are, of course, the stars of the film. They are complete opposites but the best of friends, which is so fun to watch. Qualley adopts a rich Western/Elvis accent, which hints at her natural Montanan accent. It works well against the no-frills, almost monotone language Viswanathan uses in the film. Overall, it looks like the entire cast had fun with these characters and the story.

It’s ridiculous to call this film a period piece, but it does take place in 1999, which seems like a lifetime ago. But, the ’90s vibes add heavily to the playfulness of the film from the clothing to the music to the popularity of basement parties. There were moments and references in Drive-Away Dolls that were new to me. Some came to my attention during the film and some after, during the Q&A with Cohen and Cooke. It was revealed this film was born from the imaginings of Tricia and her best friend. It was written in the early 2000s, but didn’t truly get off the ground until 2022 when re-writes and filming took place.

The team views the film as a lighter coming out story, full of queer history with names like Cynthia Plaster Caster, Bella Abzug, and Alice B. Toklas are standout references. Some of these references didn’t make sense until the end, as a kind of ta-da moment, which wasn’t the best in terms of editing. Although, this film is set in 1999, it could easily be today with the way Gen Z is bringing back the ’90s trends. 

Notable themes in the film stem from the “girls road trip” plot. The journey from point A to point Z, has all the cliche stopping points B, C, D, etc, in diners, motels, and small towns. A few stops on the trip included lesbian bars. Jamie and Marian find several along their journey. The film is a love letter to the lesbian bar scene. Lesbian bars have diminished in numbers over the years, with only 23 remaining in the US (fun fact). The film highlights those spaces as a place of community and a place to feel safe.

What does a road trip film also have? Sex. Drive-Away Dolls is a very sex positive film. There are sex scenes, not a lot, but they are in there. Unlike a lot of “young adults figuring it out” films, the sex scenes are modest and not too graphic in terms of nudity. The film is playful, and yes, suggestive, but doesn’t take away from the plot of the story. In the more popular films I can recall about girls’ trip movies, none of them are from a queer perspective. Drive-Away Dolls is a romantic and raunchy take, but still speaks to the power of female friendship.

Drive-Away Dolls is a fun and entertaining film that focuses on the good stuff amid the chaos. Love, death, comfort, fear, sex, literature, fights… it’s all in there. I read an article recently where the writer said she had “the most jarring viewing experiences” with watching Red, White & Royal Blue followed by Bottoms soon after. I had a similar experience in one sitting watching this film. There are so many wholesome and romantic moments followed by raunchy comedy tropes, violence, and funky camera movements. What a watch!

Drive-Away Dolls is in theaters February 23, 2024.