Drive-Away Dolls' Rotten Tomatoes Score Reveals a Shocking Truth Following 20-Year Coens Streak

Ethan Coen's latest film, Drive-Away Dolls, has received mixed critical reception, breaking a 20-year streak from the Coen Brothers. Known for their consistent excellence in making compelling original films since the 1980s, the Coens have become known as some of the most accomplished contemporary filmmakers. They've won an Academy Award for Best Picture for No Country For Old Men and directed several other cult classics like The Big Lebowski and Blood Simple. After The Ballad of Buster Scruggs in 2018, the brothers parted ways to work on separate projects.

The Coen Brothers together deserve to be mentioned among the best directors of all time, though their merits individually are too few to argue for. Joel Coen's Shakespeare adaptation in 2021, The Tragedy of Macbeth, was critically acclaimed, while Ethan Coen's solo bout in Drive-Away Dolls has more recently received mixed reception. The film is very entertaining, and stars like Margaret Qualley and Joey Slotnick are hilarious, representing the Coens' quintessential quirky character humor. Unfortunately, the film hasn't sat well with critics and hasn't been able to bring viewers to theaters.

Drive-Away Dolls Is The First Coen Movie Since The Ladykillers Not To Be Certified Fresh

This custom image shows Senator Channel next to Jamie and Marian in Drive-Away Dolls. - Drive-Away Dolls Is The First Coen Movie Since The Ladykillers Not To Be Certified Fresh

Drive-Away Dolls, the latest film from the Coen brothers, has failed to receive a fresh certification from Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as their first non-fresh movie in two decades. The last time they faced such criticism was with 2004's The Ladykillers, which received a lackluster 54% rating on the platform. However, despite the negative reviews, Drive-Away Dolls offers audiences an entertaining experience with impressive performances from both character actors and established film stars. Nevertheless, the impact of unfavorable critical feedback is evident as the movie struggles to find success at the box office.

Unfortunately, the raunchy humor and LGBT representation in Drive-Away Dolls have led to a divisive reception among audiences. Some viewers feel threatened by the material, causing the film to receive a lower score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie seems to anticipate this reaction, incorporating thematic commentary on sexuality through the character of Aunt Ellis in the Drive-Away Dolls ending. Ultimately, despite being one of the funniest and most progressive films in the Coen Brothers' filmography, it has garnered their third-lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Why Drive-Away Dolls' Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So Low By The Coen Brothers' Standards

Marian, Jamie and Sukie look on in shock in Drive-Away Dolls - Why Drive-Away Dolls' Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So Low By The Coen Brothers' Standards

The low Rotten Tomatoes score of Drive-Away Dolls may be attributed to its raunchiness, but critics have also criticized other aspects of the film. Unlike more nuanced films like Inside Llewyn Davis and No Country For Old Men, Drive-Away Dolls focuses more on comedy rather than deeper themes. This places it in line with other comedy-heavy Coen Brothers movies such as Burn After Reading and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which also received lower ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Coen Brothers' filmography is defined by their consistent hits, with only one "rotten" movie among them. Their top nine films have all scored 90% or higher, showcasing their longevity and versatility as storytellers. In comparison, comedy movies often struggle to receive high scores on Rotten Tomatoes. For instance, Step Brothers, a beloved silly and raunchy comedy, only has a 55% rating on the review site. This stark difference underscores the Coen Brothers' ability to create quality films that stand out in the industry.

Love it or hate it, the fact remains that Drive-Away Dolls being a critical and commercial failure is far from ideal for Ethan Coen. His credibility is crucial in securing funding for future projects. While he has built a solid reputation over the years working alongside his brother, his solo debut falls short. In comparison, Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth fared better, yet it still did not achieve the same level of award recognition as their previous collaborations.

CinemaBlend reported that Joel and Ethan Coen will be collaborating on a horror film, marking a thrilling new direction for the acclaimed filmmakers. The question of whether they can achieve the same level of success individually as they did together remains to be answered, but their partnership has historically proven to be a winning formula. Given the lucrative nature of the horror genre, their upcoming project has the potential to surpass the success of Drive-Away Dolls.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing analysis of Ethan Coen's latest film, "Drive-Away Dolls," and its impact on the Coen Brothers' legacy. Despite the film's mixed critical reception, the article highlights the brothers' exceptional track record as filmmakers. The article effectively conveys the Coens' consistent excellence and their ability to create compelling original films.

However, the article could benefit from further exploration of the reasons behind the negative critical reception of "Drive-Away Dolls." While the article mentions the raunchy humor and LGBT representation as potential factors, a deeper dive into the specific criticisms and how they align with the Coens' previous work would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the film's flaws. Additionally, the article could examine the broader context of comedy films and their tendency to receive lower Rotten Tomatoes scores, further illuminating the challenges faced by "Drive-Away Dolls" in gaining critical acclaim.