‘Joe's College Road Trip’ (2026) Netflix Movie Review - A Good Dose of Humor

This was a good, humorous watch. If you are someone who likes movies such as The Hangover and other road trip movies, then read on. The plot revolves around Joe, who is a foul-mouthed, loud man whose main aim is to teach his sheltered grandchild, BJ, “real lessons of the world”. BJ, on the other hand, is a quiet, reserved vegan kid who is ignorant of his own cultural heritage. In such a situation, it is obvious that these two have cultural and generational clashes.  What was supposed to be just a simple college tour ends up becoming an event full of misadventures, which has bad jokes, car breakdowns, and, of course, some lessons in Black history. As the film progresses, it also becomes a matter of survival for the grandfather and the grandson.  But even in the most serious situation, what doesn’t go away is the humor.

Many things go in favor of “Joe’s college road trip”. For example, there is some amazing comedy that you will witness here. And it doesn’t feel out of context. Everything makes sense, and you will find yourself laughing from start to end. Even the contrast shown is something that requires logic. BJ decides to attend a college in Malibu and thereby ignores some of the historically black colleges, such as Morehouse. This doesn’t go well with his grandfather Joe. Even in a situation like this, the light-hearted intellectual comedy is worth a watch.

The generational and cultural gap is also well shown. We see how understanding is difficult between both sides.  We also see how the grandfather is trying his level best to make his grandson understand the Black culture and history, while the grandson continues to remain blissfully ignorant of his rich culture.

Other than that, the acting is good. The actors have great comic timing, which makes the film great to watch. It isn’t artificial while watching and is very understandable. The makers have kept the pacing even. So there is no way you will get bored. And the pacing is so good that in between, you will be given enough time to get a grasp of what is happening around in the film. What also stands out in the film is the fact that it delivers some sort of message. It is not like you are watching the film just as it is, mindlessly. There is a deeper message which only when you watch the plot will you feel and understand. In many ways, the plot is also relatable for those who have experienced a generational gap with grandparents.

All in all, I would recommend you all to watch it if you are looking for something fun and interesting to watch. Yes, some curse words are frequently used, but I believe that is something you can watch and tolerate. It is not a deal breaker for anyone.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times