THE TRIP TO SPAIN
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Cast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Claire Keelan, Rebecca Johnson, Marta Barrio, Justin Edwards, Timothy Leech, Kerry Shale, Margo Stilley
Rating: (M)
Four stars (out of five)
Probably it works because, as you watch, it seems about right in regards to the two comedians’ personalities.
What we get feels like a performance-art reality show, with an intentionally funny script.
This one, The Trip to Spain (Rialto), is more of the same, with Mick Jagger and Roger Moore featuring heavily in the impersonation stakes. The dynamic between the two leads is much the same as in previous films, and yet things have shifted in a fashion.
As ever, Coogan plays the role of the more successful actor, but Brydon’s character is no longer wounded by this. Coogan will always have to underline that he is the Alpha and Brydon is now able to view this with equanimity. So now when they get into their impersonation face-offs, Brydon appears to be winding Coogan up for his own personal enjoyment rather than from any real urge to win.
Watching The Trip to Spain brings out dual emotions: I enjoyed it and will probably be lining up to see "The Trip to (insert exotic location here)" in a few years, yet at the same time I was a little annoyed that maybe I was just watching some complicated tax avoidance system.
- Christine Powley
