Product Details

• Actors: Steve Coogan, Robert Brydon
• Directors: Michael Winterbottom
• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: October 11, 2011
• Run Time: 112 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B005E7SEM0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,961 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Inspired improv reigns in The Trip, a largely ad-libbed affair that places two gifted comedians in a gloriously simple structure. Steve Coogan, playing the successful comic actor Steve Coogan, calls up his friend Rob Brydon with an offer: accompany him on a week's journey through northern England, for a newspaper series about haute cuisine restaurants scattered there. Coogan could use a companion, now that his estranged girlfriend has opted out of the journey. And so the two men trundle off in an odyssey that bears some resemblance to My Dinner with André, except there's plenty of business outside the dinner table and there are more Michael Caine imitations. The usual ups and downs of unscripted projects are here: at times the inspiration doesn't quite crest, at other times Coogan and Brydon hit nitrous-oxide highs (including their dueling Caines, their take on James Bond, and their riff on a certain kind of British battle film: "Gentlemen, to bed!"). Director Michael Winterbottom, who worked with both actors in Tristam Shandy, carefully draws out a melancholy contrast between Coogan's womanizing careerist (he persistently chalks up his second-tier Hollywood success by pompously noting that he only works with "auteurs") and Brydon's chipper family man, a difference that grounds the movie in something solid while the two cutups try to make each other laugh. This 107-minute feature film is distilled from a six-part, 172-minute British TV series, also called The Trip. Even in its shortened form, and with admitted lulls, this is a trip worth tagging along for. --Robert Horton

Product Description

When Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People, Tropic Thunder) is asked by The Observer to tour the country s finest restaurants,he envisions it as the perfect getaway with his beautiful girlfriend. But, when she backs out on him, he has no one to accompany
him but his best friend and source of eternal aggravation, Rob Brydon (A Cock and Bull Story). As the brilliant comic duo, freestyling with flair, drive each other mad with constant
competition and showdowns of competing impressions of famous celebrities, the ultimate odd couple realize in the end a rich amount about not only good food, but the nature of fame, relationships and their own lives.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Year's Smartest And Most Literate Comedy Hails From A British Television Sitcom October 1, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

One of the more unexpected hits this year on the art house circuit was Michael Winterbottom's "The Trip." Initially designated to a very limited release, the film received great word of mouth largely due to a scene featuring dueling Michael Caine impersonations which became an outright cultural phenomenon. With this sequence becoming a genuine YouTube sensation, the movie eventually rolled out to a much wider distribution in over 100 major markets. It's an interesting success story about this unassuming little film that redefines the road movie AND the art of conversation. Interestingly enough, the movie is simply a condensed version of a six part television series that aired in Britain in 2010 (which incidentally won Steve Coogan a BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy). If you've had the opportunity to see the original source material, you will obviously be familiar with the content of Winterbottom's film. It utilizes the exact same footage. But in "The Trip," the narrative is tightened up for an enjoyable two hour ride.

In truth, there's not a lot of plotting to "The Trip." Comedian Coogan and the fantastic Rob Brydon play fictional counterparts of their real life personas. Coogan has been contracted by a local paper to review a series of the country's finest restaurants. When his girlfriend backs out on the trip, Coogan scrambles for a replacement settling for a friendly acquaintance that he has worked with in the past (Brydon). In a largely improvisational manner, the two companions bicker and provoke one another with a playful respect. Brydon continually lapses into terrific impersonations and challenges Coogan to much verbal sparring. Over the course of numerous meals and much travel time, the movie plays as the daft cousin to "My Dinner With Andre" as the two showbiz professionals ruminate on life, love, food, friendship, and career. That's really about it, but the film is never short of fascinating. Coogan's character has an underlying insecurity and his bluster with Brydon alternates between silliness and scathing wit.

If the idea of watching two friends talking sounds excruciating to you, you probably aren't the movie's intended audience. "The Trip," despite its adherence to improvisational dialogue, is easily one of the year's smartest and most literate films. Coogan and Brydon are perfect guides on this journey which also features enough restaurant footage and gourmet dishes to engage even the most discerning foodie. While there are no big dramatic revelations, the film does subtly get under your skin. By the end, you realize that this friendly excursion has caused each to realize what is important in life. In fact, it's a very understated film amidst some big comic grandstanding.

The DVD features solid extras. As there was so much footage to choose from, the deleted scenes segment is rather extensive (running about 80 minutes, but with no access menu which is problematic). My favorite bonus material? An extended sequence on wine and a profane musical interlude. There is also Behind the Scenes and Making Of features. In fact, if you watch all of the extras at one sitting--you'll probably spend about the same time (or slightly more) than you invested in watching the actual movie! A great film backed by a great DVD. I might have liked the movie packaged with the TV series, but I understand we're dealing with two separate entities with different distribution companies backing them. But maybe someday. Anyway, check this one out if you enjoy bright dialogue and are a fan of Coogan and/or Brydon. It's a winner. KGHarris, 10/11.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Classic November 14, 2011

By S. Lawrence

Format:DVD

We Rise at 9:30!
Funny, loopy stuff that puts me in mind of SCTV (for me, the highest praise). It might be even funnier to Americans than to folks in the UK. We (I should say, I) don't really know these two. Is Steve Coogan REALLY famous over there for some kind of cheesey comedy show and is now seeking roles for more critical acclaim, or is that all made up? And is Rob Brydon truly well-known for being able to throw his voice in a weird, muffled way? I like how they sometimes got on each other's nerves but basically liked each other; I had feared some horrible Gervais-ish snarkfest with non-stop attacks on The Dumb Guy.

The shots of the countryside were so beautiful they should have had a link to British Airways.

Be sure to check out the Food Cut in the bonus features. And let me know what dish it was that had a saucepan filled with butter, brown sugar, honey and creme anglaise--I think I passed out.

Oh, and Coogan's Michael Caine was better.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Year's Smartest And Most Literate Comedy Hails From A British Television Sitcom October 11, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:Amazon Instant Video

One of the more unexpected hits this year on the art house circuit was Michael Winterbottom's "The Trip." Initially designated to a very limited release, the film received great word of mouth largely due to a scene featuring dueling Michael Caine impersonations which became an outright cultural phenomenon. With this sequence becoming a genuine YouTube sensation, the movie eventually rolled out to a much wider distribution in over 100 major markets. It's an interesting success story about this unassuming little film that redefines the road movie AND the art of conversation. Interestingly enough, the movie is simply a condensed version of a six part television series that aired in Britain in 2010 (which incidentally won Steve Coogan a BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy). If you've had the opportunity to see the original source material, you will obviously be familiar with the content of Winterbottom's film. It utilizes the exact same footage. But in "The Trip," the narrative is tightened up for an enjoyable two hour ride.

In truth, there's not a lot of plotting to "The Trip." Comedian Coogan and the fantastic Rob Brydon play fictional counterparts of their real life personas. Coogan has been contracted by a local paper to review a series of the country's finest restaurants. When his girlfriend backs out on the trip, Coogan scrambles for a replacement settling for a friendly acquaintance that he has worked with in the past (Brydon). In a largely improvisational manner, the two companions bicker and provoke one another with a playful respect. Brydon continually lapses into terrific impersonations and challenges Coogan to much verbal sparring. Over the course of numerous meals and much travel time, the movie plays as the daft cousin to "My Dinner With Andre" as the two showbiz professionals ruminate on life, love, food, friendship, and career. That's really about it, but the film is never short of fascinating. Coogan's character has an underlying insecurity and his bluster with Brydon alternates between silliness and scathing wit.

If the idea of watching two friends talking sounds excruciating to you, you probably aren't the movie's intended audience. "The Trip," despite its adherence to improvisational dialogue, is easily one of the year's smartest and most literate films. Coogan and Brydon are perfect guides on this journey which also features enough restaurant footage and gourmet dishes to engage even the most discerning foodie. While there are no big dramatic revelations, the film does subtly get under your skin. By the end, you realize that this friendly excursion has caused each to realize what is important in life. In fact, it's a very understated film amidst some big comic grandstanding. Anyway, check this one out if you enjoy bright dialogue and are a fan of Coogan and/or Brydon. It's a winner. KGHarris, 10/11.