Mockumentaries have become a known quantity in the world of comedy films. However, they tend to have a particular vibe to them. Almost always, the characters talk directly to the camera and such, to try and distance itself from your typical movie. However, The Trip takes a different approach. Based on a British television show, what makes this movie a mockumentary is that the two main characters are actors playing versions of themselves going about their lives on, well, a trip.
Those actors are Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. Coogan I was familar with before this movie, but I had never heard of Brydon before. Coogan has been in a few American movies, such as Tropic Thunder, but he is probably best known for his character of Alan Partridge. Brydon is evidently a fairly successful comedian in the United Kingdom, known for, as the movie will make abundantly clear, his impressions.
Coogan and Brydon play fictionalized versions of themselves, Coogan an exasperated actor unhappy with his career and his life, Brydon an affable goofball. Coogan is supposed to go on a trip through Northern England to fancy restaurants to write about them for The Observer with his girlfriend Mischa (she is an actress and a character, as is everybody who isn't Coogan and Brydon near as I can tell). However, when they decide to take a break and Mischa heads to America, Coogan reluctantly invites Brydon along.
That's the movie. Coogan and Brydon go throughout the north of England visiting restaurants and other sites and talking. It is, in a way, a travelogue, but with some staged moments. The film is also largely improvised, which seems quite evident when you watch it. The movie is quite low key, and feels like it could be a legitimate documentary about a couple of friends on a trip. Nothing feels all that stagey, but it also never gets any funnier than what a real documentary would be.
Both Coogan and Brydon, particularly the latter, derive most of their comedy from impressions, and Coogan's exasperation over Brydon's constant impressions as well. They are both good at it, and their Michael Caine riff is funny and impressive, but they go to that well a couple times too often for my liking. Additionally, some of their riffs go on for too long, and start to drag.
The movie also has somber moments in it as well, mostly involving Coogan. It isn't a farcical movie or a romp or anything like that. It provides some depth to the movie, which is nice.
Overall, The Trip is a good movie. It's not hilarious or anything, but there are some laughs and it is entertaining. There is some interesting spots they visit in the movie as well. If you can handle a bunch of impressions, or if you are interesting in seeing Northern England, then The Trip may be worth checking out.
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