May 21

May 21 'The Trip to Greece' film review: One last impression-filled getaway with Coogan & Brydon

This fourth and apparently final entry in this low-key brilliant series, 'The Trip to Greece' (available via video-on-demand starting May 22), is more of the same trademark silly banter, delectable food porn and wanderlust-inducing vistas that define the 'Trip' movies. And that’s not a bad thing.

In short: Actors Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan (once again playing fictionalized versions of themselves) travel from Troy to Ithaca following in the footsteps of the Odysseus.

Brydon and Coogan kick off the movie addressing what everyone is thinking: acknowledging, with mild disbelief, that this is their fourth destination vacation jaunt together. And not just the fourth movie - but they muse how narrative repetition is inevitable. It is a bit of a small miracle that director Michael Winterbottom, Brydon and Coogan have collaborated for four movies (with very identical plots) to create a criminally underrated film series.

The 'Trip' movies are defined by silly impersonations, good-natured ribbing between friends, mouth-watering meals and some existential male dread. Each movie has the very minimal amount of plot, yet, they're all absolutely engaging because it's just so much fun to vacation with these two funny men. 'Greece' is yet another delightful hangout with two hilarious blokes, often letting the audience feel like they're dining alongside Brydon and Coogan.

The secret ingredient to this franchise is each film's character-focused, dramatic undercurrent. In previous trips Rob and Steve have mulled their careers and fatherhood in the background while they eat some of the world's best food in the world's most beautiful locations. But just beneath the silliness and barbs is a poignant, introspective character study of two men in differing places in their career and family lives.

'Greece' (like the previous 'Trip' movies) has two distinct gears: two friends ribbing each other as they explore landmarks and two men mulling what is important to their respective lives. 'Greece' is an enjoyable jaunt with two old friends, however, it's not quite as funny or thoughtful as the other entries in the franchise. It's a pleasant little comedy that keeps the audience smiling, but 'Greece' lacks some of the sharp, character-centric jabs at the expense of Brydon and Coogan. The sub-plots involving the two comic's respective families doesn't carry the existential angst that underscored the previous movies. 'Greece' lacks a soul searching arch for either Brydon or Coogan, which unfortunately limits the film's emotional depth. And without as much dramatic dimension to explore, the fact that 'Greece' only elicits the occasional smile and not many (if any) big laughs results in a film that's just not as compelling as previous 'Trip' movies.

Yes 'Greece' is essentially structurally similar to the three movies before it - but it's intriguing to see how the jokester Brydon and self-important Coogan are fundamentally the same characters all these years later. Watching the same two characters basically share the same vacation and same playful bickering emphasizes that despite how much things changes, things stay the same. 'Greece' solidifies the great thesis of the series: the personal insecurities and concerns of these two characters may evolve over time ... but not necessarily their fundamental character.

Final verdict: If 'Greece' is indeed the final vacation for these two likable jesters, then this sun-soaked Mediterranean road trip is a nice bon voyage for this unheralded and pleasant movie series.