A few years after Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon played themselves touring North England to review restaurants (and more importantly, make fun of each other in between dodgy impressions), the two are back. This time in Italy, and with a new focus on midlife crises, mortality, Italian cinema, and Alanis Morrisette.
Like the first film, this is a condensed version of a six episode television series. Having watched series one on TV, I get the sense that The Trips are better suited to that format, where the many digressions can be indulged without any sense that we should be moving to the next scene. When you’re not digesting it in half hour morsels it can all feel a bit too loose.
It’s still a distinct pleasure watching banter between comedic actors this good. The fictional Coogan and Brydon have warmed to each other considerably, so the various barbs they sling are generally greeted with laughter rather than the nonplussed reactions of the first installment.
It’s a very funny film, so it’s surprising that the best scene is one free of laughs. It happens right at the end, and leaves the two in an ambiguous, wistful moment, suddenly making a third go around seem essential.
‘The Trip to Italy’ Movie Times
