THE TRIP (2011)

Directed By: Michael Winterbottom
Cinematography By: Ben Smithard
Editor: Dan Coles & Sion Penny

Cast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Margo Stilley


This started as a bbc series for one season about Steve Coogan doing a resteraunt tour of england with his friend/nemesis Rob Brydon. Who is replacing Coogan's girlfriend last minute. The film follows the tour as the two bicker amongst themselves. Duel when it comes to impressions and just have general conversations. The film is edited down from the 5 1/2 hour series to about 90 minutes. I don't know what exactly what was lost in the editing of this movie.

While Brydon is the happy go lucky type, Who misses his wife and child. Coogan Pinesfor his girlfriend while suffering through bad behavior as he acts out with some tyrsts to combat his loneliness and also worrying about his americn movie career.

The film is meta. It is also a mockumentry as they are actually doing the tour but a lot of the situations and drama are made up. The film paints a ultimately sad story and a sort of character study for Steve Coogan as a narcassist who seems tobe reaching the end of his rope. He makes it hard for you to feel sorry for him as he tries to come off as a authority on most things, But is awkward and vulnerable whenever it comes to his younger girlfriend.

I wish i could say i enjoyed the film. It is certainly not a bad film. I was even looking forward to it after seeing the preview. Watching it though i found myself not very invested in the film. I found myself actually getting bored in certain places in the film. It's amusing in parts especailly when the impressions are on full display or when we take a look into coogan's personal life. Other then that the rest feels like filler. Overall i found myself trying very hard to keep an interest in the film.

Rob brydon is funny and seems like a everyman. So he makes the perfect supporting straight man. The film is unlike the various foods they taste. It's fine but it lacks flavor.

Your enjoyment of the film depends on how much you enjoy or canstand these gentlemen. That will ultimately decide how much you will enjoy the film.

Director Michael Winterbottom is an amazing director who has a lot of versatility. He makes many films a year and they are all in some way noteworthy. He is amazing at being able to master mainstream film stlye and artistic independent projects.

GRADE: C+