Drive-Away Dolls
Ethan Coen tries to prove he’s the funny brother in this slight but amusing comedy.
Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan deal with cars and capers in Ethan Coen's solo debut.
Improbable friends Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Jamie (Margaret Qualley) need to get out of Philadelphia. Marian is hoping to visit her aunt in Tallahassee and get in some quality birding. Jamie just had a bombastic breakup with her cop girlfriend Suki (Beanie Feldstein) and needs to get out of town until she cools off.
Jamie suggests they take a drive-away to Tallahassee. Essentially, a company hires you to drive a car to its owner, where you’ll be paid upon receipt. They luck out with a car that just came in, heading for Tallahassee. But they don’t realize that this car has some hidden items in the trunk.
As the girls drive merrily out of town in their drive-away vehicle, two goons come in looking for the car. Will the goons find Marian and Jamie before they reach their destination? Are Marian and Jamie ever going to find that head in the trunk?
Joel and Ethan Coen have forged a lauded four-decade career collaborating on films. Their style, combining off-beat humor and silliness with dramatic cinematography and visceral violence, is unique and almost instantly recognizable. So when Joel decided to do his own thing in 2021, directing wife Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth, it felt like half a Coen Brothers’ film — all of the drama and none of the whimsy. With Drive-Away Dolls, Ethan seems to confirm that he’s the funny Coen, stuffing every irreverent quirk he can think of into this goofy, yet charming 84-minute lesbian road trip movie.
In truth, Drive-Away Dolls feels like Ethan, and his wife/co-writer/editor Tricia Cooke, took a massive toke on a bong and immediately started filming the movie. It’s silly, the performances are big, and the plot is barely coherent, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. It’s also filled with obscure and odd references (the screenplay and visuals are surprisingly dense), and if you’re not familiar with Henry James and Cynthia Plaster Caster you’re going to have to rely on the slapstick comedy to keep you entertained. And this movie is committed to being as offbeat as possible. Essentially, if you’re a fan of the broader Coen comedies — think The Hudsucker Proxy, Raising Arizona, or O Brother, Where Art Thou? — this movie will keep you amused. If you’re hoping for metaphor, or really meaning of any kind…well, it’s only 84 minutes.
At the core of the film is the relationship between Marian and Jamie. An odd couple match, Marian must be stuffy without seeming implacable while Jamie must be eccentric without being annoying. It’s a remarkably delicate balance to maintain and for the most part, the leads get it right. Viswanathan is given the less taxing job of frowning and pointing out the problems in their adventure. She keeps Marian from seeming too much like a scold, with some remarkably vulnerable moments.
As Jamie, Qualley has the more freewheeling role. With an accent that sits her somewhere between George Clooney in O Brother and Tom Hanks in The Ladykillers, she’s a brash, vulgar force of nature. It may take a moment to get used to the corn-fried accent, but the broad nature of it suits the free and easy way Jamie approaches life. She’s a magnetic presence wherever she goes, attracting women and trouble with ease. She’s the perfect foil for the uptight Marian.
Though Drive-Away Dolls is the rare case of a movie that should have been longer, it’s still a fun flight of fancy. The undercooked plot and quick-characterization of the supporting players aside, it’s still got that irreverent Coen touch. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a divisive movie, but I also think it’s got the potential to be a cult film in a few years.
For those who want a quick and breezy trip to the movies, check out this flick and enjoy.
Verdict: A half-baked Coen movie is still worth a look.
Drive-Away Dolls is rated R and available in theaters February 23.
