The Trip to Spain

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on another Europe-based trek in The Trip to Spain, with this journey following the reluctant friends as they eat and drink their way through some of Spain’s most exclusive restaurants. As expected, The Trip to Spain suffers from a decidedly uneven vibe that doesn’t become terribly problematic until somewhere around the halfway mark – as the movie is, prior to that point, rife with engaging interludes and laugh-out-loud funny conversations. (There is, in terms of the latter, a thoroughly hilarious bit involving an imagined feud between the Bonds that’s as strong as anything within this rocky series.) The overarching problem here, though, is the narrative’s terminal lack of forward momentum, with the movie’s episodic atmosphere ensuring that it ultimately works only in fits and starts – with the film, in its wheel-spinning second act, threatening to become just as underwhelming and unimpressive as the lackluster second installment. It’s the inclusion of a surprisingly compelling last-minute dramatic subplot that elevates the proceedings, as this somewhat incongruous digression, detailing Coogan’s reaction to some news from his son, paves the way for a completely oddball yet entirely fascinating final shot (ie where is this series going to go from here?) – which, in the end, confirms The Trip to Spain‘s place as a decent endeavor that nevertheless can’t quite live up to the comparatively stellar original picture.

**1/2 out of ****