Drive-Away Dolls

SPOILERS

Watching 2024's DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS is almost certain to make fans of the Coen Brothers exclaim,

"O brother, where art thou?"

This is because brother Ethan's maiden solo outing as director feels more like a Coens fan idea of a Coen Brothers movie than the real deal.  It often looks and sounds like one.  It draws much of the same comic inspiration and ideas found in RAISING ARIZONA, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, BARTON FINK, FARGO, and BURN AFTER READING. Even a bit of OLD COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.  But also INTOLERABLE CRUELTY and THE LADYKILLERS.  More of the latter, a one-two punch in the early aughts of dubious attempts at out and out comedy that was a low period for Ethan and Joel.

Ethan co-wrote this thing with his wife Tricia Cooke.  A buddy road trip comedy with the relative novelty of having two lesbians as our protagonists: Jamie (Margaret Qualley), a brash, promiscuous, and street wise Texan, and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), reserved and bookish.  Marian books a car from one of those drive-away places for a trip to see family in Tallahassee.  Jamie tags along as her lover, Sukie (Beanie Feldstein), a rough and tumble cop, has thrown her out of their apartment.  

Too bad that same car was intended for a trio of criminals: Arliss (Joey Slotnick), Flint (C.J. Wilson), and Chief (Colman Domingo).  Belonging to them is a mysterious briefcase and basket in the trunk, the contents of which I will not reveal.  How do Santos (Pedro Pascal), the guy killed during the opening scene and a conservative senator named Gary Channel (Matt Damon) fit in with all this?  The answers will amuse some.  I found them just plain silly. 

I can't get any more specific without ruining the surprises, but suffice to say a little of certain elements go a long way.  Basing the entire third act around a plot twist that should have been a one-off gag was one of many mistakes DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS makes.  There are also those shoddy scene transitions.  The inexplicable psychedelic sequences.  Even the bits that are actually funny feel recycled.  This would include moments with Curlie (Bill Camp), but he's the best thing in the movie.

Our lead actresses are endearing and cute, a solid team.  Qualley's accent didn't even bother me.  I also appreciated the film's depiction of sexuality and preferences that are often ridiculed and demonized in other movies.  But DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS ultimately is the sort of film you're grateful was included on Amazon Prime and not as an a la carte purchase.  Or maybe peripherally spied in the DVD section of the library.