A while back when discussing the film Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story staring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon I also mentioned the latest movie they’ve done together, the hilariously funny road trip The Trip.
The structure of the film is quite repetitive, as they drive from restaurant to restaurant, but there’s a reason for that; this documentary-like film started out as a BBC2 6-part television series. This film plays out much better in its original format, and that’s how Rialto Channel will be screening The Trip, beginning with the first 2 episodes on Monday 13th February at 8.30pm.
A while back when discussing the film Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story staring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon I also mentioned the latest movie they’ve done together, the hilariously funny road trip The Trip.
The structure of the film is quite repetitive, as they drive from restaurant to restaurant, but there’s a reason for that; this documentary-like film started out as a BBC2 6-part television series. This film plays out much better in its original format, and that’s how Rialto Channel will be screening The Trip, beginning with the first 2 episodes on Monday 13th February at 8.30pm.
Directed by Tristram Shandy director Michael Winterbottom, The Trip (the series) is a fictional comedy, but based around real personalities, and comes to Rialto Channel next week. Steve Coogan plays a heighted version of himself as he travels around Northern England writing a series of restaurant reviews for a Sunday newspaper magazine. His American girlfriend was going to accompany him, but when they split up he invites fellow comedian and Rob Brydon to join him on his culinary adventure.
Each episode consists of plenty of improvised chat as Coogan and Brydon dine out and drive around the picturesque countryside. Lesser comedians might not have pulled off this simple idea, but Coogan and Brydon are brilliant together as they discuss the world and their place in it, impersonate actors, bicker, and comparing careers.
There’s an underlying rivalry between them and Coogan’s fragile ego is often bruised as Brydon outshines him. Director Michael Winterbottom made the comment in an interview that their onscreen banter is very similar to their off screen banter. “When we stopped filming in The Trip, they'd just carry on chatting in the exact same way they had been chatting during the filming. It was almost like a documentary of their journey as opposed to fiction," says Winterbottom.
Director Michael Winterbottom shot this series shortly after making the intense and violent The Killer Inside Me, and no doubt hanging out with Coogan and Brydon was light relief after shooting his hard edge thriller.
It was announced last year that series 2 is in the pipeline and the plan is to send the boys off to Italy. Personally, I’m thrilled; this is British comedy at its best. What do you think? Have Brydon and Coogan got it in them to do it all again, but different?
We’ll have to wait and see. Enjoy.
For more information and screening times for the six episodes of THE TRIP click HERE.