By Zach Johnson
Ever since it was announced, we’ve been counting down the days until OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) would debut exclusively on Disney+—and that day is finally here! To celebrate, Disney Branded Television rolled out the purple carpet Thursday at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, where Olivia Rodrigo herself joined dozens of stars and hundreds of fans for an early screening—many of whom had no idea the “déjà vu” singer herself would be making a special appearance!
“I’m so excited!” the Grammy®-nominated “drivers license” singer told reporters. “It’s very strange. My parents, all my friends, all these people from Disney, and all [these people from] my music life are here. It’s like all of my worlds are colliding at once.”
Blu DeTiger, Towa Bird, and Rodrigo’s all-female band—all of whom are featured in the film—also walked the purple carpet to celebrate the “good 4 u” singer’s big night. Other notable guests who showed up to support Rodrigo included Alexander 23, Iris Apatow, Petra Collins, Kid Laroi, Kevin McHale, Christina Milian, and Busy Philipps, as well as Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television, and Interscope executives.
In OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film), viewers join Rodrigo on a road trip from Salt Lake City—where she began writing her triple-platinum Geffen Records debut album SOUR—to Los Angeles. Along the way, Rodrigo candidly reflects on creating and writing her record-breaking album and shares her feelings as a young woman navigating a specific time in her life. The film includes new live arrangements of her songs, intimate interviews, and never-before-seen footage from recording sessions.
For Rodrigo, it’s the film’s intimate moments that hold a special place in her heart. “I’m so excited for people to see the GoPro footage,” she said. “It’s always been my favorite part of the film. It’s super cool to get an inside look into the making of a song.”
The film features 11 songs from SOUR performed with brand-new arrangements in unique locations, from the Mojave Airplane Boneyard to the Red Rock Canyon State Park. “We were in uncomfortable environments at times—in deserts with snakes, in an airport graveyard—and she’s standing on the wing of a plane doing all of these things,” director Stacey Lee recalled. “She’s just a real professional. That part didn’t surprise me, but the fact that she wasn’t scared [did]. She was willing to put herself out there in a way that was true to who she is as a person and to how her album is as well.”
“She lets her guard down,” Lee continued. “She’s relatable. She’s human. She’s vulnerable. She’s not perfect. That’s a big part of what makes [her] special as an artist.”
