Joy Ride (2001)

Director: John Dahl

Starring: Steve Zahn, Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski

Three young people on a road trip from Colorado to New Jersey talk to a trucker on their CB radio, then must escape when he turns out to be a psychotic killer.

The film is a typical example of why one should be cautious when playing a prank. ‘Joy Ride’ is a classic tale of a prank gone horribly wrong.

While there’s much to love about ‘Joy Ride’, the film is riddled with plot flaws and credibility issues. What started out as a very good idea, developed into a film where events happen for the sake of making the movie more thrilling, and disregarding logic in the process. How does Rusty Nail get his information? How did he know Fuller and Lewis were brothers? How did he know Venna’s name? And how would he have connected Venna to Charlotte and where on earth did he find her? Surely, he would have had to travel in a different direction to find her, and then return? Why? And he even spray painted the signs??!!!! You mean there were no other more realistic way of handing them back the radio??

Strangely enough, despite all these flaws and the high improbability issues, the film is still entertaining. So, if you can manage to switch off a few brain cells and just go along for the (joy) ride, then you’ll have a good time. The finale is nail-biting suspense.

‘Joy Ride’ earned $36.6 million on a $23 million budget, and spawned two sequels.

Would I watch it again? Yes.