Shareefruck
Registered User
Would you say that the first one felt fresher because it was legitimately better and more organic/inspired, even in hindsight, or is it the case where all three are pretty much the exact same quality, but you've gotten sick of it? In other words, would all of these criticisms apply to the first one as well?
The Trip to Spain (2017) Directed by Michael Winterbottom 6A
The Trip to Spain is the third installment in Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's dine-and-whine road movies. By now things feel predictably familiar: we get to see delicious food served to two friends visiting beautiful European locales which only serve as as backdrops for their constant bickering. Each comic, endlessly, tries to one-up the other, often using dueling impersonations of famous British actors as their method of debate. The central theme, the highly competitive nature of male friendships, though fresh in the original film, now seems decidedly old hat. As well, the basic dynamic of Steve being the more successful but also less secure and less happy friend and Rob being the less successful, but ultimately more secure and happier friend is feeling more than a little shopworn. However, there is still much to like here. Though some of the impersonations fall flat and some of the conversations seem not exactly spontaneous, Rob Brydon is in top form. His ability to puncture Steve's self-centred, boastful, hopelessly insecure ego is even more of a delight in this picture than in the other movies (at one point when Steve leaves a table in a huff, Rob tells his companion "Not your fault. Steve hates to be informed of things he thought he already knew"). As well, Spain has never looked more diversely gorgeous. If you liked either of the first two movie, The Trip and The Trip to Italy, you will likely enjoy this one, too. If you haven't seen the other two movies, The Trip to Spain will probably seem a bit hit-and-miss but with a lot of wit.
Basically, I liked the first one, but I'm skeptical of the followups but I'm not sure if I should be.