Serious Movie Lover

THE TRIP (2011/IN THEATERS)

Steve Coogan may be an acquired taste so if you don’t know him or don’t like him, this little indie flick may be one to miss.  On the other hand, if you’re a fan of Coogan, it’s a bit of a treat.  Not only do we get his humor, but we also get lovely scenery in the Lake District in the north of England and gorgeous shots of gourmet food coming out of rustically chic British inns and taverns along the way.  The premise of the movie is simple.  Coogan has been hired to travel for a week in the north of England, visiting upscale restaurants and writing about them for a British publication.  His American girlfriend (a foodie) was meant to come along, but she has gone to LA (perhaps permanently) and so he invites a substitute companion–Rob Brydon, the Welsh comic and master of mimicry, presented as a “colleague.”  So what we have is one part travelogue, one part foodie film and one giant part comic banter and continuous one-upmanship, not to mention some fabulous impressions of Michael Caine, Al Pacino, Liam Neeson, Sean Connery and countless others. Add to that a few lovely ladies along the way and throw in a dream sequence featuring Ben Stiller (!) and a healthy dose of Michael Sheen envy from Coogan and you have a film that is seriously fun, with a touch of poignancy thrown in.  Enjoy!

Grade: B+

No pun intended:  For a taste of this film, be sure to check out this clip of Coogan and Brydon doing their best Michael Caine impressions.  Hilarious!

BTW: The movie is directed by Michael Winterbottom who also directed Coogan’s fun and definitely off-center “Tristram Shandy:  A Cock and Bull Story (2005).”

Of Note: The Trip was originally a BBC2 series of 6 episodes/180 minutes—the film we’re seeing in the U.S. is an edited theatrical version using footage from the series.