THE TRIP TO GREECE – Review

So, this Friday is the beginning of the three day weekend that usually kicks off Summer vacation time. But with the lockdown somewhat still in effect (parts of the country are testing the “re-opening waters”), every day feels part of a “stay-cation” holiday as the luggage continues to gather new layers of dust in the back of the closet. Well, there’s always a virtual “vacay” via streaming services. Now, we’re not talking about a collection of the old travelogue film shorts we sometimes see between the features on the TCM cable channel. Nope, this is a brand-spanking’ new flick shot before the world changed (nearly to a standstill), but with a couple of most familiar and entertaining guides. We know that because over the last decade we’ve joined them (as a “fly on the wall”), first through the British Isles, then to Italy, again in Spain. Time to get our “cinema passports” in order as Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon explore the sights and sounds (and, oh, the tastes) of the land a bit further East as they take THE TRIP TO GREECE.

In the three years since their trek to Spain some things have changed with Steve and Rob, while their relationship, full of affectionate but often stinging barbs, has remained fairly constant. As they meet up in Troy for another “magazine assignment”, Rob reluctantly leaves the renewed romantic bliss with his wife Sally (Rebecca Johnson), though he hints that she may join him towards the end of the “gig”. Steve’s mind is also occupied with home matters of a darker tone. The health of his father is failing, so he checks every few hours in with his son Alexander (Michael Towns), who is watching over “grand”, in his absence. Much of that is pushed aside as the old “mates’ grab a rental car and careen over the twisty two-lane roads while riffing on favorite celebrity impressions and compare tidbits of Greek history. Rob is pleased with his own career, happy to be pegged as a “working class, regular bloke” comic performer, while Steve still is trying to establish himself as more than a “funny man”, but rather a serious multi-faceted “artiste”. In the last trip he was reveling in the critical acclaim of PHILOMENA, which he wrote and co-starred in, now it’s all STAN & OLLIE and his awards and accolades, though Rob believes it was all “comic mimicry”. At one stop they meet a recent co-star of Steve’s, Kareem Alkabbani from GREED (which I reviewed a couple of months ago) and offer him a ride. When they drop him off at his destination, Rob delights in his observation that Steve doesn’t recall working with him…at all. As they trace Odysseus’s trail from Troy to Ithica, they dine at 5-star gourmet restaurants, “bunk” in superb hotels and inns, and hike up hills and through brush (sweating and huffing the whole way) to explore ancient ruins and historical sites. The dynamic changes as they meet up with Steve’s assistant Emma (Claire Keelan) and magazine photog Yolanda (Marta Barrio) for some on-location pics. The fellows become more aggressively competitive and even engage in a swimming challenge in the crystal blue waters. But soon that dreaded call comes for Steve and he’s got to cut their adventure short. But how will tragedy change this rivalry/friendship?

Once again, the real “travel organizer” is director Michael Winterbottom, who keeps us bouncing from several different backdrops on a brisk pace, lettering us savor the new locales (for the series, though they may be the most ancient) and the talents of the two explorers. Along with the unique destination, this excursion has a more somber “sidebar” as fate drains some of the endearing pomposity from Coogan. Of course Brydon does his best to “pop that SC balloon” in the opening moments during the talk over the latest critical darling, twisting it into Laurel and (Tom) Hardy (as always, still muffled in his Bane muzzle). And due to his family situation, Coogan tries to “push back” against his own mortality, insisting that he could “cliff dive” with the local twenty-somethings, despite his exhaustion during the many trail hikes. As with the earlier adventures, the arrival of Emma and Yolanda jolts the “boys” into extreme “one-ups-manship” and a big race. Things might have gotten too downbeat if not for the shimmering cinematography by James Clarke of the lovely locales and locals (the camera adores several sultry servers) and the culinary artistry of the chefs (though the lamb and seafood dishes didn’t have the tastebuds exploding as with former treks). And kudos to editor Marc Richardson for the sprightly kitchen montages (more like a close-quartered dance) and bountiful backdrops (especially at sunset). Speaking of, the travelers have publicly stated that this is the last of the outings. I’m still hopeful they may reconsider. Can you imagine the two riffing over delectable Asian dishes or perhaps steaming bowls of borscht or goulash? More than the meals, it would mean some more time with a duo who have become a most endearing comedy team for the new century, two caricatures of their public personas, the prickly self-aggrandizing Coogan and the irrepressibly upbeat Brydon. It’s a gorgeous country, but the best part of this getaway is being the third wheel to Steve and Rob on THE TRIP TO GREECE. Opa lads, and keep those passports handy!

3.5 out 0f 4

THE TRIP TO GREECE is in select theatres and can be ordered as a VOD on most cable and satellite systems and streamed on most digital apps and platforms.