Olivia Colman drama Joyride is now streaming free on ITVX
A chance encounter between a grieving 12-year-old boy and a troubled new mother becomes the starting point for an emotional journey across Ireland in Joyride, the 2022 drama starring Olivia Colman.
The independent Irish film is now available to stream for free on ITVX, where viewers can follow the unlikely pair as they flee their respective problems and gradually form a bond that changes both of their lives. ITVX describes Colman as an overwhelmed mother caught up in an extraordinary road trip with a stranger, with the film running for around 1 hour and 29 minutes on the platform.
An unexpected road trip across Ireland
Directed by Emer Reynolds and written by Ailbhe Keogan, Joyride centres on Mully, a 12-year-old boy from County Kerry who is struggling after the death of his mother.
His situation becomes even more difficult when he discovers that his debt-ridden father has taken money raised for a hospice in his mother’s name. Mully flees and takes a taxi, only to discover that someone is already inside.
That passenger is Joy, played by Olivia Colman. She is a middle-aged woman who has recently given birth and is struggling with motherhood. Joy plans to leave her newborn baby with her childhood friend Mags before travelling to Lanzarote, having decided that she does not feel a connection with the child and does not know who the father is.
Their meeting throws both characters into an unexpected situation. What begins as an escape from their separate problems turns into a journey through Ireland that gradually changes their plans and their understanding of one another.
The official Galway Film Fleadh programme described Mully and Joy as two people who gradually discover that, despite their difficult relationships with their parents, they both have plenty of love to give.
Olivia Colman and Charlie Reid at the centre
Much of the film’s appeal rests on the relationship between Colman and Charlie Reid, who plays Mully.
For Reid, the role marked his first major film project. Colman, meanwhile, brought considerable experience to the production, having already won an Academy Award for The Favourite. The pairing was highlighted when Joyride opened the 34th Galway Film Fleadh in July 2022.
The film was Reynolds’ first narrative feature after her work as an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Screen Ireland describes the story as following Joy and Mully on a wild journey across Ireland as both search for a different future.
The supporting cast includes Lochlann Ó Mearáin as James Mulligan, Olwen Fouéré as Sideline Sue and Aisling O’Sullivan as Mags, alongside a predominantly Irish ensemble.
Kerry provides the backdrop
Ireland’s landscape plays an important role in the film, particularly the scenery of County Kerry.
Joyride was filmed in Kerry during the summer of 2021. Screen Ireland notes that the region’s landscape features prominently on screen, while other production accounts highlight locations including the Kells Viaduct and the Bealach Oisin pass.
The Galway Film Fleadh selected the film as its opening movie, giving it its world premiere on 5 July 2022. The festival programme listed it as a 94-minute Irish drama and described it as the opening film of the 5-10 July event.
It subsequently received a theatrical release on 29 July 2022 through Vertigo Films.
A small film with a big emotional focus
Despite having an internationally recognised star in Colman, Joyride remains a relatively modest production. Its story is driven by the two central characters rather than a large-scale spectacle, with the road journey providing the framework for a more intimate story about grief, motherhood, friendship and trust.
That tone has also been reflected in viewer reactions. One IMDb reviewer praised Colman and Reid’s partnership, while another highlighted what they saw as the strong connection between the two performances and described the film as worth watching.
Another viewer recalled watching the film on a flight and becoming emotional several times, praising its charm and the way it portrays people of different ages needing someone they can trust and depend on.
The film’s appeal comes from that central relationship. Mully and Joy begin their journey with very different problems, but the time they spend together gradually forces both of them to reconsider what they want and what they need from other people.
Where to watch Joyride
Joyride is currently available to stream for free on ITVX. The platform lists it as a drama starring Olivia Colman and Charlie Reid, with strong language and nudity among its content warnings.
For viewers looking for an Irish road movie built around character relationships rather than a conventional blockbuster story, the film offers a compact and emotional journey through the Irish countryside.
