After the outrageous success of Joy Ride (2023), a bold, raunchy comedy that balanced laugh-out-loud chaos with heartfelt friendship, the wild quartet returns in a fictional sequel that proves lightning can strike twice—just in a messier, louder, and even more unhinged way.
Joy Ride 2: Lost in Seoul picks up two years after the events of the first film. Audrey (Ashley Park) has settled into her career as a rising entertainment executive. Lolo (Sherry Cola) is running a risqué underground art space in Los Angeles. Deadeye (Sabrina Wu) has surprisingly become a K-pop influencer, and Kat (Stephanie Hsu) is trying her hand at serious stage acting—much to everyone’s disbelief.
When Deadeye is invited to a K-pop convention in Seoul as a surprise guest, the girls decide to tag along for what should have been a chill reunion. Naturally, nothing goes to plan. From being mistaken for a new idol group and dragged into a talent competition, to getting chased by rabid superfans and stuck in a mountainside temple with psychedelic tea, Lost in Seoul goes full throttle into absurdity—and somehow finds even deeper emotional truth along the way.
Director Adele Lim returns with even sharper instincts, balancing outrageous set pieces with moments of real vulnerability. One standout scene involves Audrey confronting her birth mother again—this time on her own terms. Another unexpectedly moving subplot follows Deadeye as they wrestle with identity and sudden fame, delivering a surprisingly grounded performance.
While the sequel leans heavily into the ridiculous—there’s a goat chase, a mistaken wedding, and a K-drama fantasy dream sequence—it never loses the sincerity that made the original memorable. It’s a celebration of messy friendships, unapologetic womanhood, and finding belonging in unexpected places.
The film doesn’t reinvent the comedy road movie, but it knows exactly what it is—and it does it with style, heart, and a lot of glitter. The cast’s chemistry is even stronger than before, and their chaotic energy is infectious.
