When friends go on a trip you know things are going to get pretty wild and the new

film Joyride about a whirlwind adventure in China does follow in that tradition. But at the same time

these friends are dealing with issues of identity and family that maybe don't show up

in every movie about hookups and getting really high and ultimately learning that there's nothing like a really good friend.

I'm Linda Holmes and today we're talking about Joyride on Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR.

Joining me today is Kristen Mindzer. She co-hosts the

podcast The Daily Fail and is the co-author of How to Be Fine. Hey Kristen.

Hi Linda, how you doing? I'm good and podcast producer and film and culture critic Kate Young is with us hi Kate

Hi Kate and also with us is NPR producer Mallory you hey there Mallory

Hey Linda.

So Joyride begins with hard charging attorney Audrey, played by Ashley Park, and her longtime

slacker best friend Lolo, played by Sherry Kola.

When Audrey is sent to Beijing to land a business deal, she brings Lolo along.

And because Audrey was adopted by her white parents and doesn't know much about her birth mom in China,

Lolo encourages her to use the trip

to find out more. Lolo also brings along her cousin Dead Eye, played by

Sabrina Wu. The party is also joined by Audrey's college roommate Kat, played by the Oscar

nominated Stephanie Schu, who's a successful actress working in Beijing in an over-the-top historical drama, let's just say.

What happens from there, disasters, drugs, musical interludes,

appearances from some reliable supporting players

like Ronnie Chang as a club-loving businessman is often pretty

in step with films like The Hangover or Girls Trip, but there are also story

...