THE TRIP TO SPAIN – Review

Hmmm, just a few more days until the last Summer holiday, so there’s still time for a vacation, or at least a vicarious one with a very funny duo. Here’s their third cinematic excursion together, so let’s just go ahead and call it a movie franchise. And a most welcome, entertaining one at that. As long as there are countries that cook, it could go on for a long, long time (if we’re lucky). Under the pretense of a newspaper writing assignment we first got to accompany Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they traveled their native Britain, dashing from one splendid restaurant, while enjoying very plush accommodations at first class inns and hotels, in 2011’s THE TRIP. The two played heightened versions of themselves (much like Larry David in HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and the celeb guests on the much-missed “The Larry Saunders Show”), with Coogan as the egocentric ladies man while Brydon was the easy-going affable family man (a running joke was Steve’s dismay and disgust at the affection shown to Rob by folks on their journey). Three years later they took THE TRIP TO ITALY. In between heaping plates of pasta, Coogan settled down and devoted more time to his teenage son, while Brydon finally scored a big movie role as he tested his marriage vows during a “rough patch”. Sure the sightseeing and meals are spectacular, but the best part of these travelogues are the delightfully witty conversations between the men, rife with inside show biz stories sprinkled liberally with uncanny vocal impressions.

It’s three years and the fellows are hitting the road once more. Steve has been hired by the Observer to write a gastronomic tour of Spain, so he naturally calls Rob. His marriage has stayed strong (so strong they’ve produced a little brother for their daughter), but Rob’s been contacted by the New York times for the same type of gig, and he’s ready for a break (close-up of his screaming lil’ boy), so he’s ready for THE TRIP TO SPAIN. Steve picks him up in his rented Range Rover and they hit the road…then the sea via a luxury ferry. The other big news over the past couple years, aside from the Brydon heir, is Steve’s acclaimed work on the multi-Oscar nominated 2013 drama PHILOMENA. Its success has somewhat reverted him back to his old pompous ways (and Rob is sick of him repeating stories about the flick). He’s frustrated that the studios aren’t eager to pounce on his new film script “Missing”, and he’s fuming that his American agent has left his agency without trying to “poach” him (a young upstart has been assigned to Steve). Oh, and Steve has taken up once more with his old American girlfriend Misha (Margo Stilley), despite the fact that’s she has married since last they met. Well, at least his son Joe (Timothy Leach) is taking a break from college and is joining them during the last few days of the assignment. Meanwhile Rob is his usual jovial self, spending lots of “face time” via Skype with the wife and kids back home. And of course, he and Steve are taking in the superb scenery, exploring the country’s rich history, and devouring meals that look so good you’re glad the movie’s not in 3D!

Director Michael Winterbottom continues to orchestrate the dinners and conversations expertly, knowing when to cut from the casual duo to the precisely choreographed “dance” happening in the kitchen (these chefs and their crew are superb artists and craftspeople). As for our hosts, Coogan really gets to stretch his acting muscles this time, by presenting a talented man who doesn’t deal well with people some of the time. He’s short with his agents during phone calls and downright surly to a street musician who offers some eatery suggestions (leaving Rob to clean up his mess). As for the impressions, a few icons are revisited briefly, namely Michael Caine and Sean Connery. In some scenes Steve and Rob pay tribute to some recently departed stars, with much time awarded to Roger Moore. When the pair are visited by Coogan’s manager Emma and her photographer Yolanda (Claire Keenan and Marta Barrio once more), he tries to give them a history lesson about the Moor invasion as Brydon (still a flirt around Emma) will not stem the flow of nearly non-stop Roger rumblings. A few sequences fall a bit flat (the Brando riff as a vicious inquisitor is not helped by a fantasy reenactment), or don’t really pay off (Mick Jaggar springs to mind), but when the guys are really in the groove (meshing a torture session on the rack with a game show is inspired) we’re swept up in the masterful off the cuff brilliance. And there are the show biz insights as when the two try to convince each other that age 50 is “the prime of life” (not in Hollywood, for certain). Thanks to a misguided ending that tries for a statement (or an action film-style cliffhanger), this installment is not as strong as the previous two, but it still has more wit and punch than any two recent studio comedy misfires. After THE TRIP TO SPAIN, I’m eager to get my multiplex passport stamped once more…right after a tasty meal. of course.

4 Out of 5 Stars

THE TRIP TO SPAIN opens everywhere and screens exclusively in the St. Louis area at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas