Review: The Ride (Netflix) – Piolo Delivers, The Movie Stalls

The Ride (2025)

Platform: Netflix
Cast: Piolo Pascual, Kyle Echarri, Joey Marquez, Ping Medina
Genre: Action/Crime Thriller

The Yawn Meter: Yawned

Right from the opening sequence, I already had a feeling about the quality of action I was going to get from this film. To be honest, medyo malamya yung execution. It felt like I was watching an action movie from the 80s or 90s, and not in a nostalgic way. The vibe just felt dated immediately.

The Breakdown

1. 🎭 Acting & Cast: [ 2.5 / 5 ]

This is where you will really see the massive gap in acting prowess between the two leads.

Let's start with Piolo Pascual. He actually did good in his role as Barry. Even though there wasn't much depth written into his character, he delivered well and carried the scenes he was in. Joey Marquez as Bossing was also effective; he was genuinely scary even with limited screen time. Ping Medina is another highlight because he is just so natural, para talaga siyang sindikato effortless lang.

The big problem I had was with Kyle Echarri. I honestly didn't know what to feel watching him. He struggled to sustain the emotions required for the heavy scenes. There are moments where he should be terrified or on the verge of crying, but then his face suddenly becomes nonchalant. Walang luha sa kanya even when the scene is supposed to be heartbreaking.

It was very evident in the scene where he and Barry got blocked by the police, and especially in the part where Barry died. Kyle looked like he was smiling or just chilling. Ewan ko ba if sadya yun or baka takot lang siyang pumangit sa camera. Tears aren't always required, but for a life or death situation, sana man lang pinagpawisan siya nang malala to show the stress. You can really feel the difference in energy between him and Piolo.

2. 🔊 Audiovisuals & Production: [ 2 / 5 ]

For a film titled "The Ride" I was expecting the car chase scenes to be the highlight, but they were quite weak. The driving didn't look convincing at all. There were shots where the car is supposed to be turning, yet you can see the steering wheel isn't even moving in the right direction.

The lighting choices were also frustrating. This is an action film meant to be rugged, dark, dirty, and bloody. But in the dark scenes, there is always a light conveniently placed on the actors' faces. It feels like the production prioritized ensuring the actors looked handsome over making the scene look realistic.

The blocking in some confrontation scenes didn't make sense either. There is a part where Bossing tracks down the hideout of Barry and Leo. Leo hides in a spot that is clearly well lit, yet the bad guys didn't see him? Also, Barry had a very slow reaction time during that encounter. It just killed the suspense.

3. ✂️ Editing & Sequencing: [ 2 / 5 ]

The transitions using the car were somewhat unnecessary because there was just too much of it. I get that the title is "The Ride" so they want to emphasize the driving, but it felt repetitive.

I also wasn't a fan of the storytelling structure where they showed the opening scene again later in the film to make sense of Barry's choices. It felt pilit. It seemed like the editor was just experimenting or got inspired by another film that used that technique, but it wasn't effective here. The story isn't complicated enough to need that kind of reveal or loop.

4. 📜 Plot & Direction: [ 2.5 / 5 ]

I actually liked the storytelling aspect regarding the betrayal and how Barry's choices unfolded. It explained why he ended up in that situation.

However, I questioned some of the writer's choices. For example, in the scene at the public market where Barry overheard his former colleagues planning the betrayal. I don't know why the writer chose the violent route immediately given that it was a public place. They could have added some depth to Barry's character by having him think through the situation first instead of acting on impulse. But of course that would change the storyline a bit.

Also, the police confrontation scenes were disappointing. As usual in many Filipino films, nagmumukhang engot lagi ang kapulisan. So far, I haven't seen a local film that got police procedures right. This isn't the worst portrayal I have seen, but it definitely still isn't right.

FINAL VERDICT 🎬

"Piolo delivers but the movie stalls due to dated action and weak chemistry."

The Ride tries to be a gritty crime thriller but ends up feeling like a relic from the past. While Piolo Pascual and the veteran supporting cast do their best to elevate the material, the film is dragged down by weak production values, unrealistic lighting, and a lackluster performance from the co-lead.

The action lacks punch, the driving looks fake, and the emotional beats fail to land because the acting chemistry is one-sided. It is a passable watch if you have absolutely nothing else to do, but don't expect a high-octane experience.

OVERALL RATING: 2.25 / 5 ⭐️