The Trip to Italy (2014)
Cast includes: Steve Coogan (Philomenia), Rob Brydon (The Rob Brydon Show)
Writer/Director: Michael Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, The Killer Inside Me)
Genre: Comedy | Travel (108 minutes)
“La Bella Italia.” It’s the new series the Observer wants, and it doesn’t take much effort for Rob to convince Steve to do it again. Steve just finished filming in LA, so why not! Monday, they’re driving through the Italian countryside, and their destination is the most romantic trattoria in Tuscany. “You know I’m not a homosexual,” says Steve. “If romance should occur, we’ll deal with it as it happens,” answers Rob. This time it’s Rob whose put together the musical playlist for their weeklong adventure… and Steve who gets to take pot shots. And that’s not the only difference between their Italian trip and last year’s trip… “No impressions. We talked about that,” says Steve. “I don’t know why the Observer wants us to do this again, anyway. We don’t really know anything about food,” Steve points out. But “it’s not about the food… they liked the Brittany piece so much that they want us to do it again.” “Sequels are never as good as the first,” Steve points out, and before we know it, the two are citing examples of sequels, doing impressions and trying to outdo the other.
Their trip takes them through the most fabulous destinations for “beautiful people.” While gazing at an especially fetching beauty, Steve ponders the way “They don’t even see us. They just look right through us… like we’re not even there. They don’t even see us as lascivious,” he says. This trip isn’t so much “La Bella Italia” as it is a “midlife hiatus,” complete with keen observations about aging. “Seeming unhappy when you’re under 40 makes you look interesting. Over 40, it makes you look grumpy.” As it turns out, our middle-aged travel companions still have a few moves… although one wonders if they’re not old enough to know better. Anyway, it’s a gorgeous trip, and while overlooking the most spectacular coastline ever, Rob announces, “What I’ve discovered on this trip is that I can live very simply.” (Yep. Couldn’t we all!)
The Trip to Italy is indeed a sequel to their earlier film, The Trip. If you enjoyed The Trip, you’ll enjoy this one, too. There’s never a limit, when it comes to enjoyment of beautiful scenery, funny situations and irreverent dialog in famous actor’s voices. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are extremely talented and their banter is always amusing… even though it’s often a challenge to keep up. It sounds completely improvised, but that’s the beauty of Michael Winterbottom’s script and direction. Like the first, this Trip doesn’t have much of a plot… possibly even less than the first film. But as a travel film, you can’t do much better… “Nature never disappoints…” we almost feel like we’re in the car, in the hotels and at the tables overlooking the amazing coastlines, while Steve and Rob make irreverent remarks about almost everything. While all roads lead to Rome… “ It’s not like it’s a new town. They’ve had 2,000 years to sort out the traffic problems.”
3 popped kernels
Two competitive British comedians collaborate on a food tour of Italy
Popcorn Profile
Rated: NR
Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Style: Neutral
Distribution: Art House
Mood: Upbeat
Tempo: Cruises Comfortably
Visual Style: Nicely Varnished Realism
Nutshell: Road & restaurant tour of Italy
Language: Irreverent
Social Significance: Pure Entertainment
