The Trip To Spain

The Trip To Spain

This is a third in a series of “The Trip” films written and directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Steven Coogan and Rob Brydon as themselves. The premise, plot points, and much of the humour, are very similar to its predecessors, with the backdrop of The Trip To Spain being the most distinguishable change. That however, is not a criticism.

Coogan is a writer, Brydon is a food critic, and both come together for a five day trip through Spain. Most of the film is a succession of smoothly executed, Vaudevillian style routines in which Brydon and Coogan volley jokes and impressions at each other with equal amounts of affection and vitriol. These usually take place during a meal at a number of fine provincial restaurants, with salaciously exquisite food preparation shots interspersed.

If the entire film had comprised just these routines, it would have held up (though perhaps not for non-fans for whom the banter might have worn thin). But it has been filled out with a story line that doesn’t quite snap in place. Still, very much worth the trip to the cinema.

★★★1/2

Reviewed by Rita Bratovich.

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.