The Trip to Spain, 2017.
Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
Starring Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan.
SYNOPSIS:
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on a six-part episodic road trip through Spain, sampling the restaurants, eateries, and sights along the way.
Right from the beginning I will confess that I have never seen the previous two entries in this series of films that, rather creatively, follows Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan portraying a cross between real-life and fictionalized versions of themselves as they tour various exotic locales to gander at the sights and do what we all love to do on vacation, find the nearest revered restaurant and stuff our faces. Along the way, the close friends get into multiple back-and-forth dialogues either centered on comedy or existential ponderings such as the meaning of life, and the viewer’s enthusiasm for these aspects is what The Trip to Spain lives and dies on.
Broken up into an entire week of food and traveling, every day on the trip to Spain is similar to the last; a midlife crisis is discussed and both Brydon and Coogan drop educational facts on the audience while bantering in the presence of a historical landmark. Neither of these things really make for an engaging film, particularly because of the film’s (and series) structure that falls somewhere between movie and documentary. The characters are nowhere near fleshed out enough to muster up a damn regarding their troubles. If anything, it’s the opposite, as we’re in a world where Steve Coogan was nominated for a writing Academy Award (which he was in real life) but is shoveling food in his face asking if this is all there is to life. Easily, the most captivating parts of the entire film are the documentary style shots of chefs preparing delicious looking cuisines.
The Trip to Spain also inserts fictional dramatized problems into each character’s life, either related to work or a love interest. I can’t say I cared about any of these things, but there were some interesting observations to make, such as an agent choosing to have Coogan’s latest script rewritten by an up-and-comer despite the writer relatively being fresh off of his 2012 Oscar nomination for Philomena. In a way, it’s biting satire, and totally the kind of nonsense I expect from Hollywood executives. However, it’s simply not enough to make it a narrative arc worth investing in, piling onto a running time that already feels 20- 30 minutes too long.
Letting go of the superfluous story additions would greatly increase the level of fun to be found within, as when the longtime friends are shooting the shit, it’s entertaining. Nothing about their chemistry is forced (most likely because they are obviously friends outside of movies), although some of their famous celebrity impressions do begin to grate the ears. Essentially, it’s too much of a good thing, and easy to sense that when the script has no idea what the pals should talk about next it’s time to bust out some cheap laughs. Also, it just feels lazy when either of the two repeat impressions of celebrities they have already done earlier in the film. Maybe everyone involved feels that since this is the third entry in the series, the stars must go for bigger and more laughs not realizing that less is more, and in this case, funnier without diminishing returns.
Outside of the dialogue that has its ups and downs, the other wonderful element of The Trip to Spain is its ability to provoke reflection on current events. There’s a conversation where Brydon and Coogan talk about the passing of the late great rock icon David Bowie, that both serve a purpose to the characters and provides a window into the changes of the world over the last few years. Furthermore, and this should go without saying, the environments and exotic locations are all exquisitely framed, definitely making the experience easy on the eyes. Although, the food definitely is still a better visual. Flawed as it may be, at the very least there is no denying that The Trip to Spain offers up plenty of intrigue for traveling enthusiasts.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder – Chief Film Critic of Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews weekly, friend me on Facebook, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
Originally published August 17, 2017. Updated April 11, 2018.
