Film: Joyride

I remember seeing the trailer for this but don't recall it coming to cinemas. So I was pleased to discover it on Netflix on a Friday when we didn't have time for our usual cinema trip.

The film follows a young boy in Ireland, Mully (Charlie Reid), escaping from his neglectful father and a middle-aged new mum, Joy (Olivia Colman), escaping from motherhood itself.

We meet them when the boy steals a taxi, only to discover there's a drunken mum and newborn baby in the back. We do have to set reality aside for a moment here. Joy, a seemingly formidable lawyer, seems like an unlikely candidate for an accidental pregnancy, never mind being caught up in car theft, which they go on to do more of.

Having recently lost his beloved mother to cancer, Mully appears to have a better understanding of what it means to be a new mum than Joy does. He quickly shares his wisdom with her, leading to some poignant and humorous moments.

This turns out to be a touching story of how a woman and a vulnerable young boy found family in the most unlikely way. Joyride ultimately delivers a warm story about finding connection when you least expect it.

6/10