‘The Ride’ (2025) Netflix Movie Review - Expected Something Better

How much can go for your family is a question that “The Ride” raises when you finish watching it. Barry and Leo have an estranged father-son bond. However, Leo’s mother is sick, and Barry wishes for Leo to see her. To reach her, he agrees to take a trip with his father to their destination. Much of this trip was filled with apprehension on the part of Leo, as he is somewhat aware of his father’s criminal past. Had it not been for his ailing mother, he would have never taken the trip with him. But this trip isn’t as easy as one may think. What was supposed to be a simple ride back home turns violent and bloody. Their journey is filled with shootouts and confessions, which end up giving Leo a true picture of what his father truly is. At the same time, it also leads to an understanding between them, as it is the first time Leo learns about his father directly from the man himself. For Barry, things are simple: he knows he failed as a husband and a father. Therefore, he doesn’t want Leo to face the same fate as he did and end up following his path. He wishes for Leo to study and become someone better. The question that arises in front of us is: Will Barry and Leo make it towards the very end of their journey? Will Leo follow the same path as his father, or will things change for him in life?

Okay, now the plot is very basic. Almost something that we have already seen before. But what actually works for the film is the cast. The actors, namely Piolo Pascual as a guilt-ridden Barry and Kyle Echarri as an aloof Leo, do a fantastic job as a father-son duo who are still trying to understand the world around them and, most importantly, their bond.  Their acting is so real and powerful that for one moment, you will forget that they aren’t acting.

Other than that, the other factors are predictable. For example, Barry has a criminal past but wishes the best for his child. Then, of course, the shoot-out sequences are something we have already seen before. So, as such, there is nothing much that excites us in the plot, as we already know what is happening and what might happen in the next scene.

The pacing is absurdly slow, which is very annoying. Yes, I agree that plots where a certain relationship is being explored need a pacing that doesn’t rush much, but here things went down a bit too slowly for us to understand and even make sense of what was happening. The shoot-out sequences, for example, took forever to be shot. But nonetheless.

The storyline is nice, I won't deny that. It was really good. Had the execution been better, for sure I would have highly recommended this, at least worth one watch. However, that isn’t the case here, and therefore, for your weekend, I would rather suggest that you watch something else and be entertained.

Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times