The Trip

Picking up where Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story left off, The Trip follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they embark on a journey into the North of England to visit several restaurants for an article that Coogan is to write – with the excursion inevitably boiling down to a series of conversations and arguments between the mismatched pair. There’s little doubt that Coogan and Brydon’s palpable chemistry together plays an instrumental role in cementing The Trip‘s mild success, as the two actors step into their admittedly familiar roles – Coogan’s uptight and ill-tempered, while Brydon is freewheeling and fun – with an ease that proves impossible to resist. The film’s plotless structure is, as a result, generally not as problematic as one might’ve feared, and it’s immediately clear that the movie is at its best when focused on the protagonists’ loose, improvisatory shenanigans (eg the pair engage in a battle of Michael Caine impressions, Coogan expresses his desire to appear in a period piece, etc, etc). Filmmaker Michael Winterbottom’s ongoing efforts at anchoring the proceedings with moments of drama (eg Coogan’s ongoing relationship problems) unfortunately don’t fare quite as well, although it’s worth noting that the movie packs an unexpectedly potent emotional punch in its heartfelt final minutes. And although the film does begin to run out of steam after a certain point – the premise is, after all, inherently repetitive – The Trip boasts a pervasively agreeable atmosphere that proves instrumental in compensating for its flaws.

*** out of ****