Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Michael Towns, Kareem Alkabbani, Claire Keelan, Rebecca Johnson, Tim Leach, Richard Clews
Distributor: Madman Films
Runtime: 103 mins. Reviewed in Jun 2020
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For almost a decade, audiences have enjoyed both the television series and the film versions of The Trip. It began in the north of England but later there were international travels, to Italy and to Spain. And now, The Trip to Greece.
Audiences who have visited Greece will be delighted with an overview of the scenic delights of Greece. Audiences who have not visited Greece will also be delighted – and thinking of possible plans for a trip. This time Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon decide to follow the route of Odysseus and his travelling home from the Trojan War to his wife Penelope at Ithaca. Which means that they start in Turkey near Troy, travel through the Aegean, via Lesbos, memories of Sappho, to the amphitheatre at Epidaurus, donning theatrical masks and miming, to Athens and the Piraeus, to Macedon and memories of Aristotle and Alexander the Great (and some criticisms of this conqueror), to Mount Olympus, to the site of the Olympic Games, and to further sites westward.
Audiences will expect a lot of gourmet touches – and they won’t be disappointed, even if the meal sequences are shorter than might have been expected, and there is the continued distraction of the scenery outside, as well is the patter and banter between the two in their competitiveness and their impersonations. But, we are taken behind-the-scenes, a variety of kitchens, chefs with their skills, waiters and their style of service. So, no disappointment in what is served here.
Along the way, there are humorous references to Hercules, to the Sirens, a visit to caves where they sing chant. And, speaking of music, Rob does various parity variations on Grease is the word, some falsetto singing, some Rod Stewart songs, the Bee Gees and Stayin’ Alive. And they do their best in mimicking the score of Chariots of Fire.
The banter between the two is up-to-date, Rob Brydon’s television career, Steve Coogan being praised for his impersonation of Stan Laurel in Stan and Ollie, and an even longer list of media celebrities that they impersonate, reprisals of many from the previous trips, but a list which includes Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Marlon Brando (and both imitating scenes from The Godfather), Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man, along with Dustin Hoffman in that film as well as The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy (and some Jon Voight) as well, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Werner Herzog, Hugh Grant, and Steve Coogan even doing a Godzilla! For those who know British actor, Ray Winstone and his tough gangster roles, surprised to remember that he did play Henry VIII on television, they do a long funny sequence of his Henry VIII using gangster accent and language.
However, there are some touches of pathos in this film, more than others, Steve and his son, phone calls, arrangements on phone with the agents, news of his father’s illness, some graphic nightmares. Rob, on the other hand, has phone calls with his daughter, Chloe, and his wife.
There is a sombre tone towards the end as Steve gets news of his father’s death, makes every effort to get back to England, is reunited with his son, the funeral. On the other hand, Rob, like Odysseus, reaches the end of his travels and is reunited with his wife, happy holidaying on an island and in the waters.
They discuss whether there will be other films of trips – and the decision, the meantime at least, is not.
Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.
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