ReelBob: ‘The Trip to Greece’ ★★★

By Bob Bloom

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are on the road again — this time taking an odyssey through the Mediterranean in “The Trip to Greece.”

In their fourth collaboration with writer-director Michael Winterbottom, Coogan and Brydon — portraying exaggerated and semifictional versions of themselves — plan to follow the path of Odysseus, which took him 10 years to make it home from Troy (in modern Turkey) to Ithaca.

Coogan and Brydon plan to make the trek in six days. Like their first three excursions — “The Trip” (2011), “The Trip to Italy” (2014) and “The Trip to Spain” (2017) — “The Trip to Greece” is a blend of comedy, travelogue and culinary journey, most of which is ad-libbed by its two leads.

The movie despite its similarities to its predecessors — Coogan and Brydon constantly jibe, tease each other and do impersonations of everyone from Mick Jagger to Sean Connery — is enjoyable as comfort-food cinema.

“The Trip to Greece” is a scenic delight, as the two visit several historical sites — including the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the caves of Diros, the island of Hydra and Nestor’s Palace — savor various Grecian dishes and offer wry observations about Greek history, mythology and culture.

During many delicious-looking meals and while driving around the country, Coogan and Brydon reflect on aging, their families and their careers — Coogan cannot help but remind his pal several times that he has won seven BAFTA, the British equivalent of the Academy Awards.

Their patter is so unforced and natural and not just because this is their fourth go-round. They make you feel as if they are personally connected and enjoy each other’s company.

A friendly competition exists between the two as each cheerfully attempts to one-up the other and make his companion laugh. At the same time, they elicit a smile or chuckle from us.

As the film progresses, a minor disconcerting note in the final reel brings some sadness to all the levity.

But, as in Greek theater, sometimes comedy and tragedy go hand in hand. It is thus with “The Trip to Greece.”

I don’t know if this is Winterbottom’s way of ending the series or setting it up for another excursion. Myself, I prefer the latter. I enjoy traveling the world with Coogan and Brydon and hope to accompany them on many more experiences.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

THE TRIP TO GREECE
3 stars out of 4
Not rated