Joy Ride is a 2023 comedy movie directed by Adele Lim. The film tells the story of four unlikely friends who set out on a wild and adventurous journey across different countries. The main character, Audrey, goes on a business trip that doesn’t go as planned. She then asks for help from her friends — Lolo, her childhood best friend who is a bit of a mess; Deadeye, Lolo’s quirky cousin; and Kat, her college friend who is now a famous Chinese soap star. Together, they explore new places and discover the true meaning of friendship as they search for Audrey’s birth mother in a foreign country.
The movie takes place in various locations, including China, where the friends not only explore the places but also learn more about themselves along the way. If you’re wondering where the movie Joy Ride was filmed, keep reading!
Where was “Joy Ride” Filmed?
Joy Ride was filmed entirely in British Columbia, Canada, specifically in the Metro Vancouver area. The filming started in early October 2021 and was completed in November 2021, taking about a month or so. British Columbia is known for its diverse and beautiful landscapes, which makes it a popular location for filming many different types of movies. The areas around Vancouver were perfect for standing in as other countries, which made it an ideal spot for shooting Joy Ride.
Metro Vancouver, British Columbia
Most of the important scenes in Joy Ride were filmed in Metro Vancouver, which is also known as Greater Vancouver. The city of Vancouver, the main urban area of Metro Vancouver, was the primary filming location. However, the filmmakers didn’t just stay in Vancouver; they also traveled to other places in the Greater Vancouver area to shoot some key scenes.
For example, the airport scenes in the movie were filmed at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in the city of Richmond. This airport is a busy and well-known location, making it a great spot for filming the scenes where the characters are traveling.
Filming Scenes Set in China: Even though parts of the movie are set in China, these scenes were actually filmed in Vancouver. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, located at 578 Carrall Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown, was used for many of the scenes that were supposed to take place in China. This beautiful Chinese garden helps promote Chinese culture and gives visitors a feeling of being in China. The filmmakers found this location perfect for doubling as China, making it a key filming site for the movie.
Filming in Maple Ridge: During the early stages of filming, the cast and crew were seen shooting several important scenes in and around Fletcher Park at 12260 Fletcher Street in Maple Ridge, which is a part of Greater Vancouver. For some scenes, the production team built some wild and adult-themed rides, which were quite eye-catching. These scenes matched the movie’s fun and raunchy nature, making them an essential part of the film.
The Dance Sequence and Behind-the-Scenes Fun: One of the movie’s most memorable moments is the dance sequence set to the song “WAP.” In a July 2023 interview with Screen Rant, the co-producers and co-writers, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, talked about what it was like to film that scene. They praised the amazing cast, including Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu, for making the scene possible.
Cherry Chevapravatdumrong shared that the energy on set was incredible during those days because everyone was excited. She said, “We were hearing that song, which is awesome, over and over again, and we were watching a full concert happen in front of us as each cast member did their choreography with backup dancers. It was like seeing four Beyoncé concerts in a row. It was amazing.”
Joy Ride is a movie that takes the audience on a fun and adventurous journey across different countries, but most of it was filmed in British Columbia, Canada. The diverse landscapes and locations in Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver’s Chinatown and Maple Ridge, helped bring the movie’s story to life. Even though the movie features scenes set in China, the filmmakers were able to create those settings right in Vancouver. The behind-the-scenes energy and effort from the cast and crew made Joy Ride an exciting and entertaining film to watch.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Joy Ride
Q: Where was Joy Ride (2023) filmed?
A: Joy Ride (2023) was filmed in British Columbia, Canada, mostly in the Metro Vancouver area. Key filming locations include the city of Vancouver, the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in Richmond, and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Some scenes were also filmed in Fletcher Park in Maple Ridge.
Q: When was Joy Ride (2023) filmed?
A: The filming of Joy Ride (2023) started in early October 2021 and was completed in November 2021. The production took about a month to finish, making use of British Columbia’s versatile locations to capture the film’s scenes.
Q: When was Joy Ride (2023) released?
A: Joy Ride (2023) was released on July 7, 2023. The movie premiered in theaters, and its release was widely anticipated due to its unique story and the star-studded cast.
Q: Who are the main cast members of Joy Ride (2023)?
A: The main cast of Joy Ride (2023) includes Ashley Park as Audrey, Sherry Cola as Lolo, Stephanie Hsu as Deadeye, and Sabrina Wu as Kat. Each of these actors plays a significant role in the film, contributing to the story of their adventurous journey.
Q: What is the story of Joy Ride (2023)?
A: Joy Ride (2023) is a comedy film that follows four friends—Audrey, Lolo, Deadeye, and Kat—on an adventurous journey across different countries. Audrey’s business trip goes wrong, and she seeks help from her friends to find her birth mother in a foreign country. Along the way, they explore new places and discover the true meaning of friendship.
