Longest and the hardest laughs in a very long time

Apart from the very likable, guffaw inducing trailer that I stumbled upon a few months back, there was very little I knew of the movie, let alone any of the leads. Although Steve Coogan’s was a familiar face from his Hollywood cameos, I don’t particularly recall watching Rob Brydon before. Tried to dig up the movie locally without much success until to my utter relief & delight, I could download it a few hours back And here I am grinning ear to ear having just finished watching it.

Its very rare that I get to put words moments after I watch a movie, but well for “The Trip” I just could not resist the idea. Its a simple story (if You can call it that), beautifully told through the experiences of Steve and Bob loosely based on themselves, as they embark on a culinary journey through the cold, murky terrains of north England. As they check into various hotels over a week, and taste the most exquisite of the fine dining dishes, as a part of a piece that Coogan has been asked to put together for The Observer. Rob’s fascination for scallops is unmistakable every time they order food.. But anyways, what starts as a vapid prospect of 2 middle aged actors playing themselves, on an uneventful trip, slowly but surely brings forth the idea that constitutes bulk of the movie. Clash of egos take center stage but in the most understated way, as the leads constantly try to one-up the other, while making random jokes on food, travel, sex, music, movies, actors, family and well everything Your brain could fathom. The backdrop is of two friends in a similar profession, most likely in the exact same phase in their careers but with a starkly different family life. Bob’s a sweet small one, where as Steve’s the exact opposite with an estranged girl friend and a son with well, teenage issues.

What stood out to me about this one is that it never gets in Your way of Your perception of these 2 characters as each day of the week passes by. It is one of those rare accomplishments where the makers leave it to the audience to decide whatever they want to make of it and their efforts meet with unprecedented success by the time the screen reads “The End”. The humour as mentioned earlier is ridiculously understated but is constant through out its runtime. Standout mentions would be a long list of impressions that Steve and Rob both attempt starting from the likes of Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Roger Moore to Michael Sheen and Woody Allen. Then there is this fantastic scene in a cemetery while they are standing on a grave in the most casual manner possible discussing “death” and what would Steve’s speech be in Rob’s funeral. That scene like many others is meant to be an allegory but brings along itself possibility of such deadpan humour that its almost unescapable. If there was one movie that has had the most laughs this year, its hands down “The Trip”.

Spite & Disgust brought out the sweetest tear of laughter

I expected so much from the movie after that fantastic trailer. To my utter surprise, disbelief and absolute pleasure at the end of it all, “The Trip” provides on all those levels and more. So much so that I have got myself the first season of all 6 episodes of the improvised sitcom of the same name played by the same guys. Looking forward to it. & if You still need a hint, here it is .

To everyone who can appreciate an odd, understated, buddy movie about a road trip involving 2 brilliant leads at the fore with dry understated British humour from start to finish, “The Trip” is a must watch. Absolutely 200% Recommended. 4.9/5

Unlike my regular posts, I’d leave You with an absolute rib tickler of a scene (trust me there are plenty of them). Enjoy