By Riley Dauber
Lifestyle Editor
Cinephiles looking forward to Ethan Coen’s “Drive-Away Dolls” may have been disappointed when the film’s release was pushed from Sept. 22, 2023 to Feb. 23, 2024 due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, according to IMDb.
Turns out, the script has also been sitting in a drawer for two decades, according to Associated Press. Coen wrote the film in 2002 with his wife Tricia Cooke, who pulled inspiration from the lesbian bar scene.
However, the film proved to be worth the wait. With its fast pacing, committed performances, and stylized editing and directing, “Drive-Away Dolls” shows that fun cinema is truly and rightfully back.
Set in 1999, the film follows two women — Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) — as they look for a way to get out of Philadelphia. The former was recently found cheating on her girlfriend Sukie (Beanie Feldstein), while the latter plans to spend time with her aunt. They decide to take part in a driveaway to Tallahassee, Fla., where they drive a car and deliver it to the owner.
However, the owner of the Dodge Aries is storing a mysterious briefcase in the trunk that the pair is unaware of. As they head down the East Coast, stopping at motels and lesbian bars, the two are followed by a hilarious pair of lackeys, Arliss (Joey Slotnick) and Flint (C.J. Wilson), in search of the case. Their boss, Chief (Colman Domingo), needs the case for a secret agreement with Senator Channel (Matt Damon).
The leading performances and characters are easily the highlight of the film. Qualley is great in most of her projects, including “Fosse/Vernon” and “Maid,” but here she dons a pitch-perfect Southern accent and an affinity for muscle tees. Meanwhile, Viswanathan’s uptight Marian acts as an audience insert for all of the film’s crazy shenanigans.
“These characters are polar opposites, and the way I wanted to play them couldn’t be more different than Margaret and Jamie. Opposites attract, and they both have something to learn from each other…You go on this journey together,” Viswanathan said.
As the film progresses, the two grow closer and start to develop feelings. Coen and Cooke do not shy away from the character’s sexualities. Jamie and Marian are allowed to be open about their feelings and sexual partners, and the pair’s chemistry adds a bit of heart to the kooky crime thriller.
“There aren’t a lot of lesbian genre movies, certainly not back then. I wanted to make a movie that was light-hearted and had a happy ending and felt free and fun. That didn’t exist in the lesbian film world. It was important for me to make a playful queer movie,” Cooke said.
The supporting performances are also great and provide each actor with a moment to shine. Domingo proves he is one to watch, balancing the severity of his character’s position with the ridiculous objects found in the briefcase. Slotnick and Wilson also have plenty of entertaining scenes as they are sent on a wild goose chase in search of the girls.
“I’m sure you can tell they attack their roles with relish,” Coen said.
Most of the film’s elements work, from the fun transitions to the visually-pleasing shots. However, some moments feel glossed over. In lieu of some sex scenes and methods of escape, the movie utilizes funkadelic segments with bright colors and cameos from Miley Cyrus. These transitions end up making sense by the time the credits roll, but they stick out like a sore thumb.
One such moment is when, instead of showing how the villains capture the girls, the film plays footage of a dog race to establish the location. The footage is odd and may lead to some raised eyebrows, especially since the rest of the film is cohesive.
Despite these strange editing choices, “Drive-Away Dolls” provides viewers with a queer road trip comedy with some crime and action elements thrown in. Qualley and Viswanathan have great chemistry and bounce off of each other well.
“It’s important to make important movies for sure,” Cooke said. “But it’s also important to make movies where you can just eat popcorn and not have to think about what your day is or what’s going on in the world. To escape.”
“Drive-Away Dolls” is currently in theaters and available to stream on Apple TV.
Photo by Riley Dauber.
Photo Caption: “Drive-Away Dolls” follows two lesbians on a road trip to Tallahassee, Fla.