Ride: Blu-Ray Review
Now available on Blu-ray is writer/director Jeremy Ungar’s feature film debut, “Ride”, starring Bella Thorne (“The Babysitter”), Jessie T. Usher (“Independence Day: Resurgence”) and Will Brill (“The Eyes of My Mother”). I knew very little about this one going in, but a thriller built around an “Uber” like car service was something I could get behind. The casting of Jessie T. Usher who has been slowly building a name for himself (next year you will see him play the son of Shaft) was what piqued my interest. So, does “Ride” bring the thrills or is it running on empty? Ultimately, a little of both.
Set in Los Angeles, struggling actor James (Usher) is trying to make ends meet by working as a driver for the Ride service (like Uber). His first passenger of the night is Jessica (Thorne), a beautiful young woman that has an instant connection with her driver. When James drops Jessica off at a bar, she takes a chance and invites him to join her and her friends. James reluctantly turns down the invite because his priority is to earn some money. James’ next ride is a sketchy guy named Bruno (Brill). At first James is not too pleased with his latest fare. Bruno keeps trying to light up a cigarette in the car and won’t stop running his mouth. It isn’t until Bruno starts pulling out hundred-dollar-bills and giving them to James as tips for favors that James begins to open-up, going so far as to tell Bruno about Jessica. What James doesn’t realize is that Bruno has his own plans for the night and talking James into picking up Jessica at the bar and bringing her with them is just the beginning of his sinister plot.
As a narrative, “Ride” is super thin, even for its’ brisk 79-minute runtime. It does move along quickly. The writing lacks originality but what makes “Ride” work is the cast, most notably Brill who sinks his teeth into his role as the villain. Usher and Thorne have great chemistry as well. What “Ride” lacks in tension, makes up for in character. If you are looking for a memorable trip, you might be disappointed, but if you like the cast and a passable thriller, this is a ride you may enjoy.
By: Marc Ferman