HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN

“We’re making history because we’ve never seen Asian faces in this way,” says Joy Ride star Sherry Cola. Directed by Adele Lim, the acclaimed film is, unquestionably, an instant comedy classic for its rare depiction of Asian people – in Cola’s words – ‘doing drugs’ whilst having ‘fun, sex and a K-Pop music video fantasy!’

From the co-screenwriter of Crazy Rich Asians, Joy Ride stars Cola, Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu as four mismatched chums on a bonkers and debauchery-filled adventure to China. Cola, best known for her role as Alice Kwan on Good Trouble, plays Lolo, a sex-positive artist who makes, well, sex-positive art.

“This is the most liberated version of myself that I’ve ever portrayed because, stereotypically, society has put us in the box of ‘timid’ or ‘submissive’ or not wanting to rock the boat,” Cola tells GAY TIMES, “and Lolo shatters that completely.”

Wu, a screenwriter and comedian, makes their on-screen debut as Deadeye, Lolo’s eccentric, androgynous and socially-awkward cousin with a K-pop obsession. “There are parts of Deadeye that feel very pulled from my life,” the newcomer reveals. “Hopefully that reads to their authenticity and genuineness.”

Here, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu discuss the “universal” themes of Joy Ride, the refreshing portrayal of their characters’ queerness and whether we can expect to see the new Fantastic Four of comedy in a future sequel/prequel/spin-off. (Joy Ride 2: Kat’s Vageen coming soon.)

Sabrina! Sherry! How are you?

Sherry: Thanks for having me! We are blessed and I’m so thrilled to talk the good talk about this film because everyone is edging for it to be released.

Sabrina: I’m actually really excited to talk to you. Anyone that’s talking to me from GAY TIMES, I’m like, awesome, cool.

Congratulations to you both on Joy Ride, this film is insanely hilarious. Sabrina, this is your first major acting role, right?

Sabrina: Totally. The secret is that it’s my first audition that I’ve ever done in the industry, so… crazy first experience!

Joy Ride is quite historic, because we’ve never had a mainstream R-rated comedy with all Asian leads. So, how does it feel to be part of something so groundbreaking?

Sherry: There’s two feelings. One of them is, ‘Oh, we’re making history because we’ve never seen Asian faces in this way, making fun of ourselves, having sex, doing drugs, having a K-Pop music video fantasy!’ It’s so magical. There’s also the version of me that’s thinking, ‘This is just a funny movie.’ It’s so universal. It’s so relatable. It’s about friendship and discovering who you are. It’s about chosen family and that could not be more relatable. This film is for everyone. It’s for the culture. It’s major for the community. Also, everyone in the audience is gonna walk away feeling inspired to tell their story, and that’s the kind of impact we wanna make.