Jamie regrets her breakup with her girlfriend, while Marian needs to relax. In search of a fresh start, they embark on an unexpected road trip to Tallahassee. Things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals.
“Drive-Away Dolls” is a disappointing and disjointed attempt at filmmaking that serves as a stark reminder of why the Coen brothers’ collaborative genius is so integral to their success. When the Coen brothers decided to dissolve their directing partnership and go solo in 2021, Joel was the first out of the gate with “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” starring Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, and Brendan Gleeson. The film received rave reviews and three Oscar nominations. Not to be outdone by his sibling, Ethan set out with his first solo effort, an action comedy called “Drive-Away Dolls,” starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Pedro Pascal, and Matt Damon, but instead of garnering enthusiastic reviews like his brother, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction, earning him some of the worst reviews of his storied career.
“Drive-Away Dolls” is the kind of movie lesser copycat directors in the early-to-mid nineties, who were bowled over by Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning “Pulp Fiction,” tried to emulate. Titles such as “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead,” “The Way of the Gun,” “2 Days In The Valley,” and many more hoped to mimic “Pulp Fiction”’s success but ultimately failed. I never thought I would see the day when a prolific director like Ethan Coen would try to duplicate an accomplished filmmaker like Quentin Tarantino and completely miss the mark, but here we are.
The film’s premise, which follows two disgruntled lesbians on the run, Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), who decide to take matters into their own hands, holds promise. However, the execution falls flat, leaving viewers longing for the signature Coen brothers’ touch that has elevated their previous collaborations to critical acclaim.
From the film’s aimless plot to its hollow characterizations, “Drive-Away Dolls” feels like a director struggling to find his footing without his creative partner. Without the collaborative synergy and complementary storytelling skills of his brother Joel, Ethan struggles to maintain the same level of narrative cohesion and cinematic flair that has become the hallmark of their joint projects. The result is a film that feels disjointed, lacking the sharp wit and nuanced character development that fans have come to expect from the Coen brothers. Ethan wanted to make a film as far removed from his award-winning filmography as possible, and he has succeeded. The film offers a glimpse into the uneven and often underwhelming results when one-half of the acclaimed Coen brothers duo steps out alone.
Thankfully, the Coen brothers are back together again, hard at work on a horror film, and I can’t wait to see what it’s about. While I try to find at least one positive aspect with every negative review, it is almost impossible to achieve here. Pedro Pascal and Matt Damon’s cameos are welcome in a sea of mediocrity, but sadly, they are not enough to save the film. Maybe next time.
Available on Blu-ray™, DVD, and Digital April 23rd
