The Trip to Italy (2014)
On This Day in Film goes to the opening night of the AGH Film Fest
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Starring: Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon
Running Time: 108 mins
Release date: 25 April, 2014 (UK)
Worldwide Gross: $5,539,000
Basic Plot:
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon pack up their bags again and take their witty one-liners and impersonations to Italy. In the sequel to the well-received The Trip (2010), the two British comics quip their way through the beautiful backdrop of Italy’s fine dining and wineries. Again, as with The Trip, the two take on a fictionalized form of themselves and give us insight into the world of Lord Byron’s Italy and the literary and filmic references that the Mediterranean has to offer. Their journey is filled with moments of excess, reflection and gratification and gives a wondrous account of the Italians’ influence on the world of art.
Clock Watching? 14/20
The Trip to Italy began with a bang and had me in stitches when once again, the two comedians were impersonating Michael Caine’s voice, but this time in The Dark Knight Rises. As I shook in my seat with laughter, the two also portrayed Tom Hardy and Christian Bale, this time without as much accuracy or humour. And this is how the film continued. There were moments of brilliance and yet moments of waiting, waiting for the next impression or funny quip. The film didn’t drag and, in fact, flew by but there seemed some gaps in its process. There was either too many impressions, or too little; too much Coogan ego, or too little Brydon reflection. This led to a film that sometimes flowed with ease to a movie that felt disjointed that didn’t distance itself away from the original film enough to really sit alone.
Oscar Performances? 12/20
The performances were good! Solid, maybe, but that’s about it. I could happily watch Coogan and Brydon talk to each other all day and night, telling stories or quoting poems in various celebrity voices, but at times it felt as if they were overacting. I would have loved to see “Coodon” being themselves, telling stories of their times in Hollywood or on sets, impersonating and reciting poetry, but it often felt contrived. It was the fabrication of the characters that didn’t allow these two comic legends to really show us what they could do. However, they still gave me some good laughs, which is what they do best.
Lights, Camera, Direction? 12/20
Michael Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People) is becoming a very experienced director and in The Trip to Italy he again shows us how accomplished he is behind the lens. However, what The Trip had in originality its successor falls in replication. Winterbottom and The Trip to Italy has the film’s backdrop as its only unique attribute. Winterbottom could have explored more with these two and given the movie a clear purpose, I feel that this would have given us a film in itself, rather than a foreign version of The Trip.
Tell a Friend? 13/20
I will be telling my parents, that’s for sure. Being British and in their 60s this will be perfect for them. My worries are that the same might not be said for others in my circle. Like I said, the film has some great parts and those scenes I will replicate as I feel they will be enjoyed by all, but as a whole I’m not sure whether it’s everyone’s cup of tea. There are many references to British culture, which might alienate some audiences, but there are enough film references to Roman Holiday (1953) and La Dolce Vita (1960) that will allow most to get something from it. My friends who have an avid interest in Bryon and the beauty of Italy will be the first on my list to tell.
Again? 10/20
This is one of those films that I won’t avoid watching again, but will probably not go out of my way to rewatch. This probably sums up my opinion of The Trip to Italy, enjoyable but not fantastic. If it’s on TV I will probably make a cup of coffee and kick back, but I won’t be searching for it when it comes out on DVD.
Total: 61%
A good fix of Coogan and Brydon, but nothing more than an enjoyable extension of The Trip.
by Russell Farnham
