LIKES:
Great Music -A sucker for a good soundtrack, these Dolls have some classics to add that zest of the times and help give you some mood establishment.
-Some scenes feel very psychedelic, hypnotic and mellowing out that will eventually mean something if you stick around, adding to that clever execution Coen seems to be going for in this film.
-While other times it's just fun hearing that classic band feel, that music that moved generations with the messages and emotion that they brought, a few times crossing into poetic portrayals, though very few for me.
Short Run Time -This movie is not going to be for everyone, and a short run time may be a saving grace for viewers like this.
-Less than ninety minutes, with credits, it was quite a relief to know that an "artistic" film like this was going to take the minimum out of my busy day.
-And for those that have shorter attention spans, this is a plus. Otherwise there is little more I can say about this category.
Clever Wit At Times -Like the music use, Coen and wife's writing is indeed very smart, stepping up to handle a lot of comedic topics in one movie and do it so brazenly.
-The dialogue has a lot of wit behind it, jabs at moral character, pokes at political views and personalities, handling of very sensitive topics, and all with that wrapping of TikTok worthy quotes that are so popular.
-It holds a lot of confidence, and some of the metaphors are quite startling in just how crazy and out of left-field it is, and for that it's admirable to see just how they managed to work in so many challenges to the normal.
Unique -For those reasons above, Drive-Away Dolls is unique in that it will be a memorable movie for one way or another.
-The story may not be the most dazzling, layered, or even spectacular, but its elements are certainly a topic many don't take a swing at without being foreign or independent in terms of category.
-With visuals that only help support it, and the political nature of the plot being a big element without trying to mask behind a story, these dolls are certainly going to be that tributary that is going to try to open up a "whole new kind of movie."
Progressive -It's a joke in the movie, and there is no shame in how progressive this movie takes with liberties from the normal restraint of other films.
-The opening shot alone is going to be a selling point for some parties, and a killing moment for others, leading to a divisive nature that might be exciting and engaging all at the same time.
-And again, because of that boldness, because of the brazen challenge, that unique atmosphere is again going to be a memorable factor that may rock a lot of the modern society and get the higher reviews.
-To be honest, I can appreciate the courage to try some of these things out, as it really adds that punch to step out of the comfort zone and give some niche markets their time to shine.
Some Character Exploration Class -The movie accomplishes much in trying to explore what seems to be very simple characters at the start of the movie. At least one of them.
-Marian's world seems very closed off, but soon expands into a surprisingly touching exploration of a psyche that explains the tendencies her character shows, which I found very touching, realistic, and classy.
-And even the more ludicrous and annoyingly forward Jamie gets some touching moments near the end that again adds that realistic vulnerability that doesn't become a Hallmark special.
-The rest, have some moments that suggest more, again mirroring societal arcs and views that mix things up and give you a debate without being a debate special. And that's going to have mixed reception depending on who you are.
Acting: -Performance wise, the movie has levels of acting that might not be my favorite roles, style of coy, or really heroic and thought out characters. Yet, still handles this controversial movie well.
-Qualley is great a playing an annoying, extreme, and very reckless character with a heavy southern twang. She's energetic, very social media vibe, who holds very little boundaries for her actions, nor is often not sorry about being who she is. Qualley own this role, and just holds an energy that goes with the progressive tone of this film.
-Viswanathan adds that class to the movie, and I loved the character direction with the execution of a more engaging and deeper character. Sure, she's aggressive on a different level, but her delivery and restraint are more engaging to me and the better character to get through this movie with.
-And Beanie is Beanie. She's loud, she's obnoxious, and she's the extreme character that will meld with those just wanting a stupid and silly role with that brazen attitude. She works well with both characters, if not still unable to make a role that has more layers than yelling and pissed off.
DISLIKES:
Plot is Odd/Aggressive -With unique flavor, often comes aggressive and oddities to the plot, and Drive-Away Dolls is certainly odd.
-Do not be fooled by the trailers, which are heavily edited to hide just how much of what this movie is. And instead, the rated R brand is earned in just how aggressive, strange, and ugly this movie can get.
-To avoid spoilers, this adventure takes what seems to be a road trip gone wrong and turns it into that, but with a lot more aggressive and strange twists that seem to go nowhere and somewhere at the same time.
-And because of that approach, this weird mix didn't quite entertain me to the full extent, with me just riding out to see what all this mess was about.
Aggressive In Many Ways -That aggressive level I see entertaining some of my friends, those liking films like Zola, absolutely loving the absurdity at a tale like this and the jokes that come with it.
-Another film that pulls few punches, Drive-Away Dolls is a little too much for me in lots of the things they present and how much it's rubbed in your face.
-Jamie's annoying, selfish, and excessive rudeness did little for me, not really funny in how intrusive and idiotic she was, nor the sexual obsession she hold for a lot of the film.
-And the banter turning everything into being something about sex is not classy or clever, instead just Twitter drama amplified to levels to be so absurd it's funny.
-Again, several of my friends who like the boundaries HBO pushes, ae going to be captivated by this film.
Very Stupid -Yes, the movie is stupid on parts, and admits it with some self-deprecating jokes that were my favorite.
-And again that boundless idiocy just got old when I had few characters to latch onto, or a serious plot that didn't suddenly veer into sexual shenanigans again.
-Thus, the absurdity and wackiness were lost on me just because the tale was not engaging enough nor broke it up enough to not exhaust me.
Character Disappointments -I've stated it before, but many characters are annoying, with questionable moral compasses that even in the movies don't do much for viewers like me.
-Even worse, the hot topic actor Pascal was wasted for me on many levels, barely involved enough to put his name on the ads, and really only for bait.
-This would happen with several others, as most felt like accessory cameos that for the most part did little for me and could have been skipped given the hyperbolic overshadowing that our leads have.
Hypersexual Visuals/Trippy -The movie is essentially a big collection of sexual scenes brought upon by the insidious drive of the lead character and perhaps to the point of unnecessary excessiveness to the point of overkill.
-What is honestly just a step above the cheesy XXX films, Drive-Away Dolls is going to bombard you with very "intimate" moments of self-pleasing, uncouth, excessive orgy fantasies all for the sake of being unapologetically "human." -Sure, it's a side of humanity, but with plots that barely escape the pull of this perversion, and many unneeded detours to just cram more sex into every line, it's an ugly and less entertaining side compared to other R ratings I've seen.
-Throw in these trippy, acid trip interludes that for the most part have little purpose until the end, and this Alice in Wonderland sex show does nothing for me.
Potentially Offensive -Finally, the questionable content is going to be offensive for a lot of people, so a warning to actually read a few reviews warning you about this film.
-Coen's work is very much inciting attention, but don't put yourself in the trenches for what could be a very insulting and inciting film.
-I myself found a few times the blunt comedy, visuals, and aggression to be too much, crossing a line without any clever or witty set up, merely again an unfiltered venting through cinema that just felt unneeded.
The VERDICT: It is tough to score a movie this subjective in nature and design without causing the crowd to rise up. One the one hand, the movie is indeed blazing some trails, bringing a very unique and absurd story to life with some ingenuity and wit that Coen can bring to the screen. Handling topics in these odd ways, with that parody meets reality and political venue, Drive-Away Dolls really adds that "indie" like quality with a more blockbuster packaging. There are few moments that relieve the hyperaggressive comedy and satire, touching moments that do justice to the characters our talented cast brings to this progressive film. Yet, like some of his other films, Coen's level of directing is going to be targeted to niches and certain groups without much care, and perhaps to the point of being too "elevated." With very offensive dialogue, progressive political points of view, and very graphic and unyielding sexual content with nary a break in the adult comedy, this movie's plot and direction might be tough to sell to some. Thus, my scoring for this film is divided into:
Action/Comedy/Thriller: 6.5 (not much action or thriller) Movie Overall: 5.5-6.0.
Great Music -A sucker for a good soundtrack, these Dolls have some classics to add that zest of the times and help give you some mood establishment.
-Some scenes feel very psychedelic, hypnotic and mellowing out that will eventually mean something if you stick around, adding to that clever execution Coen seems to be going for in this film.
-While other times it's just fun hearing that classic band feel, that music that moved generations with the messages and emotion that they brought, a few times crossing into poetic portrayals, though very few for me.
Short Run Time -This movie is not going to be for everyone, and a short run time may be a saving grace for viewers like this.
-Less than ninety minutes, with credits, it was quite a relief to know that an "artistic" film like this was going to take the minimum out of my busy day.
-And for those that have shorter attention spans, this is a plus. Otherwise there is little more I can say about this category.
Clever Wit At Times -Like the music use, Coen and wife's writing is indeed very smart, stepping up to handle a lot of comedic topics in one movie and do it so brazenly.
-The dialogue has a lot of wit behind it, jabs at moral character, pokes at political views and personalities, handling of very sensitive topics, and all with that wrapping of TikTok worthy quotes that are so popular.
-It holds a lot of confidence, and some of the metaphors are quite startling in just how crazy and out of left-field it is, and for that it's admirable to see just how they managed to work in so many challenges to the normal.
Unique -For those reasons above, Drive-Away Dolls is unique in that it will be a memorable movie for one way or another.
-The story may not be the most dazzling, layered, or even spectacular, but its elements are certainly a topic many don't take a swing at without being foreign or independent in terms of category.
-With visuals that only help support it, and the political nature of the plot being a big element without trying to mask behind a story, these dolls are certainly going to be that tributary that is going to try to open up a "whole new kind of movie."
Progressive -It's a joke in the movie, and there is no shame in how progressive this movie takes with liberties from the normal restraint of other films.
-The opening shot alone is going to be a selling point for some parties, and a killing moment for others, leading to a divisive nature that might be exciting and engaging all at the same time.
-And again, because of that boldness, because of the brazen challenge, that unique atmosphere is again going to be a memorable factor that may rock a lot of the modern society and get the higher reviews.
-To be honest, I can appreciate the courage to try some of these things out, as it really adds that punch to step out of the comfort zone and give some niche markets their time to shine.
Some Character Exploration Class -The movie accomplishes much in trying to explore what seems to be very simple characters at the start of the movie. At least one of them.
-Marian's world seems very closed off, but soon expands into a surprisingly touching exploration of a psyche that explains the tendencies her character shows, which I found very touching, realistic, and classy.
-And even the more ludicrous and annoyingly forward Jamie gets some touching moments near the end that again adds that realistic vulnerability that doesn't become a Hallmark special.
-The rest, have some moments that suggest more, again mirroring societal arcs and views that mix things up and give you a debate without being a debate special. And that's going to have mixed reception depending on who you are.
Acting: -Performance wise, the movie has levels of acting that might not be my favorite roles, style of coy, or really heroic and thought out characters. Yet, still handles this controversial movie well.
-Qualley is great a playing an annoying, extreme, and very reckless character with a heavy southern twang. She's energetic, very social media vibe, who holds very little boundaries for her actions, nor is often not sorry about being who she is. Qualley own this role, and just holds an energy that goes with the progressive tone of this film.
-Viswanathan adds that class to the movie, and I loved the character direction with the execution of a more engaging and deeper character. Sure, she's aggressive on a different level, but her delivery and restraint are more engaging to me and the better character to get through this movie with.
-And Beanie is Beanie. She's loud, she's obnoxious, and she's the extreme character that will meld with those just wanting a stupid and silly role with that brazen attitude. She works well with both characters, if not still unable to make a role that has more layers than yelling and pissed off.
DISLIKES:
Plot is Odd/Aggressive -With unique flavor, often comes aggressive and oddities to the plot, and Drive-Away Dolls is certainly odd.
-Do not be fooled by the trailers, which are heavily edited to hide just how much of what this movie is. And instead, the rated R brand is earned in just how aggressive, strange, and ugly this movie can get.
-To avoid spoilers, this adventure takes what seems to be a road trip gone wrong and turns it into that, but with a lot more aggressive and strange twists that seem to go nowhere and somewhere at the same time.
-And because of that approach, this weird mix didn't quite entertain me to the full extent, with me just riding out to see what all this mess was about.
Aggressive In Many Ways -That aggressive level I see entertaining some of my friends, those liking films like Zola, absolutely loving the absurdity at a tale like this and the jokes that come with it.
-Another film that pulls few punches, Drive-Away Dolls is a little too much for me in lots of the things they present and how much it's rubbed in your face.
-Jamie's annoying, selfish, and excessive rudeness did little for me, not really funny in how intrusive and idiotic she was, nor the sexual obsession she hold for a lot of the film.
-And the banter turning everything into being something about sex is not classy or clever, instead just Twitter drama amplified to levels to be so absurd it's funny.
-Again, several of my friends who like the boundaries HBO pushes, ae going to be captivated by this film.
Very Stupid -Yes, the movie is stupid on parts, and admits it with some self-deprecating jokes that were my favorite.
-And again that boundless idiocy just got old when I had few characters to latch onto, or a serious plot that didn't suddenly veer into sexual shenanigans again.
-Thus, the absurdity and wackiness were lost on me just because the tale was not engaging enough nor broke it up enough to not exhaust me.
Character Disappointments -I've stated it before, but many characters are annoying, with questionable moral compasses that even in the movies don't do much for viewers like me.
-Even worse, the hot topic actor Pascal was wasted for me on many levels, barely involved enough to put his name on the ads, and really only for bait.
-This would happen with several others, as most felt like accessory cameos that for the most part did little for me and could have been skipped given the hyperbolic overshadowing that our leads have.
Hypersexual Visuals/Trippy -The movie is essentially a big collection of sexual scenes brought upon by the insidious drive of the lead character and perhaps to the point of unnecessary excessiveness to the point of overkill.
-What is honestly just a step above the cheesy XXX films, Drive-Away Dolls is going to bombard you with very "intimate" moments of self-pleasing, uncouth, excessive orgy fantasies all for the sake of being unapologetically "human." -Sure, it's a side of humanity, but with plots that barely escape the pull of this perversion, and many unneeded detours to just cram more sex into every line, it's an ugly and less entertaining side compared to other R ratings I've seen.
-Throw in these trippy, acid trip interludes that for the most part have little purpose until the end, and this Alice in Wonderland sex show does nothing for me.
Potentially Offensive -Finally, the questionable content is going to be offensive for a lot of people, so a warning to actually read a few reviews warning you about this film.
-Coen's work is very much inciting attention, but don't put yourself in the trenches for what could be a very insulting and inciting film.
-I myself found a few times the blunt comedy, visuals, and aggression to be too much, crossing a line without any clever or witty set up, merely again an unfiltered venting through cinema that just felt unneeded.
The VERDICT: It is tough to score a movie this subjective in nature and design without causing the crowd to rise up. One the one hand, the movie is indeed blazing some trails, bringing a very unique and absurd story to life with some ingenuity and wit that Coen can bring to the screen. Handling topics in these odd ways, with that parody meets reality and political venue, Drive-Away Dolls really adds that "indie" like quality with a more blockbuster packaging. There are few moments that relieve the hyperaggressive comedy and satire, touching moments that do justice to the characters our talented cast brings to this progressive film. Yet, like some of his other films, Coen's level of directing is going to be targeted to niches and certain groups without much care, and perhaps to the point of being too "elevated." With very offensive dialogue, progressive political points of view, and very graphic and unyielding sexual content with nary a break in the adult comedy, this movie's plot and direction might be tough to sell to some. Thus, my scoring for this film is divided into:
Action/Comedy/Thriller: 6.5 (not much action or thriller) Movie Overall: 5.5-6.0.