The Trip

Fans of comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (2005's Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story) will appreciate their reunion—playing themselves—in this road-trip mockumentary. Hired by a London newspaper to rank and review upscale restaurants throughout rural northern England's Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, Steve is dismayed when girlfriend Mischa (Margo Stilley) bows out at the last minute. In desperation (since everyone else has turned him down), Steve invites Rob. Traveling together in a Range Rover, the pair not only drive and dine but also randomly impersonate celebrities such as Michael Caine, Woody Allen, Hugh Grant, Al Pacino, Alec Guinness, and Liam Neeson, among others. And, as they devour six meals at diverse establishments, the bantering, bickering, and philosophizing (particularly about the exquisite agony of fame) never cease. Helmed by British director Michael Winterbottom, The Trip is—unfortunately—rambling, episodic, and uneven, with the persistent whining, tiresome one-upmanship, and quasi-camaraderie of these two middle-aged men dragging on excessively. The goofy, improv concept was originally broadcast as a popular six-part BBC2 series, divided into bite-size half-hour segments. While some of the dishes are amusing—at L'Enclume, the men sample lollipops made of duck fat with peanuts—this silly, self-indulgent culinary tour de farce is an optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include deleted scenes (102 min.), “Food Cut” preparation clips (13 min.), a “making-of” featurette (12 min.), “Rob's Pics & Climbing Footage” (2 min.), a poster gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a substantial extras package for an uneven mockumentary.] (S. Granger)