Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead DVD: Review By MovieBuff

Oct 12th, 2008 by MovieBuff
This movie shows how holes in a story can ruin the whole damn thing
  • OVERALL
    2.0
    POOR
  • Feature
  • Picture
  • Sound
  • Extras
  • Replay Value
THE GOOD
An ok movie if you have absolutely NOTHING else to do. The producers were smart making this a straight to DVD movie. It would've bombed at the box office. But as a straight to DVD, it passes as ok.
THE BAD
Cheesy movie with quite a few relative holes in the story. You can definitely do better. The Special features are horrendous and there is nothing fascinating about them.
THE FEATURE
The premise of Joy Ride 2 is the same as the first installment... only worse. The original with Paul Walker and Steve Zahn actually was pretty decent... a 3 1/2 stars probably. But this sequel falls a little short on the suspense and excitement. And don't get me started on the lack of logical decision making by the characters in the movie. This story has too many holes. It definitely does NOT compare to J.J. Abrams original story.

The story begins with three teens (actually they're in their early twenties considering where they're going) headed to Las Vegas for the weekend. Two sisters and the boyfriend of the blonde sister (the single one is a brunette). On the way, they stop at a gas station and pick up a fourth. This guy they pick up is a friend of the single sister but... they actually met online (maybe on Movieweb haha) and had never met in person. Then this idiot suggests they take a short cut instead of taking the highway... and they do. What? Are you kidding me? Who in their right mind would pick up a total stranger that they met online THEN listen to his suggestions? They've known him three minutes and already they're doing what he suggests. STUPID.

The kids have car trouble (of course) and walk to a nearby house. No one is home, so the idiot everyone is listening to breaks in. Huh? Ok... whatever. The kids look around the house then find a perfectly good car in the garage. Once again, the idiot suggests something... you guessed it. They take the car. Who gives a sh*t if that's grand theft auto and you can go to jail for it. This movie is getting dumb and dumber. I started wondering if Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels were going to make a cameo appearance. Geez. Well the rational blonde sister (I'm being sarcastic) leaves her cell phone number at the front door so the owners of the house know who to call when they see their car missing. Doh! Homer Simpson style. That's right baby... why don't you give them your social security number and your bank account number while you're feeling so generous.

Well, the movie is just dumb so I'm gonna wind this down. The owner of the house turns out to be Rusty Nail, the killer trucker from the original movie. Now he's pissed cause someone stole his car and goes after the kids and starts playing cat and mouse with them. Only in this sequel, Rusty seems more vicious.

Again... there is going to be a lot of eye rolling going on when you watch this movie. There are many times this movie does not make any sense. Maybe it was because James Robert Johnston and Bennett Yellin are not as good screenplay writers as J.J. Abrams who wrote the original Joy Ride. Not sure why, but you're probably better off renting the original Joy Ride then this sequel. BUT... if you have nothing else to do and no other movie to watch, then you may enjoy it. Who am I to tell you not to watch it? I'm just a guy with an opinion who prefers to be entertained by better movies.
THE EXTRAS
The DVD has very few features when you're done watching the movie. There are no deleted scenes, no gag reels, no alternate endings... just the following:

The Making of Joy Ride 2:

A simple explanation of the idea of how the movie got done.

Blood and Guts:

This may interest some friends of mine (Vamp and Crypt ha ha) due to the fact it's a segment about the blood and gore in the movie. It shows how the makeup played a big part in the deaths of a few victims in the movie..

Storyboard to Scene:

This segment explains how the director took a storyboard and transferred it onto film. Nothing special since all directors do this, but if you're interested on how THIS particular movie transitioned to film, then by all means... watch this segment. Otherwise, its pretty boring.
THE VIDEO
The film is presented in 16x9 widescreen format, enhanced for widescreen televisions.
THE AUDIO
The sound is handled through the Dolby Digital Surround Sound format offered in both 5.1 and 2.0 digital sounds. You also have a choice of English and Spanish sub-titles.
THE PACKAGE
You have the silohette of a girl face to face with a semi truck. The cover actually looks interesting and will probably make you pick it up. Don't be fooled. Its relying way too much on the success of the first film.
THE FINAL WORD
Again... who am I to tell you not to watch this movie. My wife enjoyed it but I wasn't too interested. I didn't hate it, but I definitely don't think its as good as the original. You'll have to judge for yourself.

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Comments (12)

  1. The Lost Girl

    Saw this one first, then the first. Hated this one, but the original was okay. Decent storyline, but this one also has holes in the story. Makes you wonder - is that deliberate; not enough time to edit or what?

    4 years agoby @trinity7694Flag

  2. The Dark Knight

    um ok but the song fits if you listen to it

    4 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  3. The CryptKeeper

    lol. true, MB123

    and TDK, quit being random, please lol

    4 years agoby @catwomanFlag

  4. The Dark Knight

    its a song by the doors

    4 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  5. MovieBuff

    Movienerd... watch the first one. Joyride is pretty good. Not great, but it has better actors and you'll be better entertained.

    Crypt... ok... maybe you didn't love it, but you DID give it FOUR stars... so you really really liked it. Is that a little better? haha Seriously... I know you recognized the lack of common sense in the movie because you mentioned it in your review... I just had to poke a little fun since you poked some fun at me with the "my wife comment". Its all good ;)

    And TDK... "riders in the storm"? Sorry... I don't get it. What's that comment supposed to mean? I tell you... ever since you went on that small hiatus, you've posted some unusual comments. So what's up?

    4 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag

  6. The CryptKeeper

    hey, man. i never said i loved the ting. and yes, i just wanna see some psychotic trucker kill people. i think it could have been better, and something i take as a serious film, but instead, all i give it is entertainment factor. lol

    4 years agoby @catwomanFlag

  7. MovieNerd

    Really good review. Never saw the first and dont plan on seeing this one.

    4 years agoby @nickoFlag

  8. The Dark Knight

    "riders on the storm"

    4 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag

  9. MovieBuff

    Thank you Justincase. The Kudos is appreciated.

    4 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag

  10. MovieBuff

    Again... I didn't hate the movie Crypt... I know you loved it.... but I just didn't think it was all that good. A movie needs to make some sense and there were WAAAAAY too many holes in it. It looked like swiss cheese. Its a fun movie if you throw away the story and just wanna watch a psycho trucker kill people.

    The same reason Friday the 13th has 11 installments. Most of the movies in that series make no f*cking sense but people love to see Jason kill dumb witted kids.

    And Rusty Nails must be a f*cking millionaire. His car was destroyed, his rig was destroyed, yet he has another brand new red rig at the end? With that kind of money, what the f*ck is he doing driving rigs? haha

    Oh and yes... my wife IS my better half. ;)

    4 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag

  11. justincase

    great review.

    4 years agoby @justincaseFlag

  12. The CryptKeeper

    I guess your wife is your better half. lol JK

    Well ya cant say I didnt warn ya. i guess you are just too tough in movies these days, man. lol I mean, what were you expecting? something better than the first?

    4 years agoby @catwomanFlag