Directed by Michael Winterbottom

Release Date – May 29th 2014

THE TRIP TO ITALY is a semi-fictional improvised tour of Italy starring two of Britain’s best loved comic actors, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

 In the long awaited follow-up to the smash hit comedy THE TRIP, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on a new culinary road trip around Italy in the summer, where they enjoy mouth-watering meals in the gorgeous surroundings of Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and Capri. They riff on subjects as varied as Batman’s vocal register, Pompeii, the artistic merits of “Jagged Little Pill”, and, of course, compete on who can do the best Michael Caine impersonation.

So says the press blurb accompanying this film and it’s pretty accurate.

I laughed for the first 80% of the film before the journey seemed to peter out as it approached the end of the trip.

If you like what these guys do then you’ll love this film.

Given that the feature film is a compilation of the six part series that aired on the BBC in April 2014, you’d assume it captures the best moments.

Unfortunately I felt the narrative was secondary to the guys’ banter and the gorgeous scenery.

At times it can feel like B-Roll improvisation footage of Coogan and Brydon riffing with each other doing impressions of people more famous than themselves.

And given Coogan’s success with films like Philomena, it’s hard to swallow the premise that his career isn’t going so well.

A lightweight piece of fun, perfect for a plane or a hangover.

With luck Madman will release the TV series in Australia. I’d happily watch that.

3 & 1/2 stars.