The Trip to Spain

The problem with a bad ending is that it becomes the only thing people remember. No matter how good a movie is leading up to the conclusion, it can all be undone by what happens in those precious final minutes. This is relevant in terms of The Trip To Spain because, for the most part, it’s a witty travelogue following two British comedians as they try to make one another laugh while waxing philosophical about life and love. They’re smart and the humor is sometimes dry, but we like them.

Then the ending happens and you’re thinking “what the?” as the credits roll.

The comedians are Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, and this is the third time they’ve traveled together on screen: The first was The Trip through England in 2011, then The Trip To Italy in 2014. Now they’re hitting Spain, once again playing versions of themselves and this time channeling Don Quixote, the Spanish Civil War, the Inquisition, etc. They even find a dinosaur monument to visit, which leads to some barbed one-liners and the best John Hurt impression you’ll ever hear.

Speaking of impressions, there are plenty of them. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether Coogan or Brydon does the better Mick Jagger, Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, David Bowie, Woody Allen and/or Michael Caine (among others), but this much is for sure: It’ll make you smile to watch them easily morph into these celebrities, not to mention wish you could do the impressions nearly as well.

The real appeal of the film is the chemistry and conversation between Coogan and Brydon. Now three movies in, director Michael Winterbottom once again uses the same formula of driving through a country, stopping at off-the-beaten-path fine dining establishments, and staying at posh hotels while visiting notable landmarks. Each stop is part of a roughly 60-page outline that provides the “shell” of the movie, which is as close to a script as this project gets. Coogan and Brydon are given a loose plot to follow, but they’re largely on their own to improvise the dialogue, which usually meets with success.

It’s when the conversation isn’t as successful, however, that The Trip To Spain struggles. At times it’s a bit too chatty for its own good, with some segments making the movie a little too long. The real offense in this regard, however, is the 10-minute epilogue that should’ve been left on the cutting-room floor.

Still, it’s the journey, not the destination, and this journey is fun and clever.

THE TRIP TO SPAIN (2 1/2) Directed by Michael Winterbottom • Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Claire Keelan, Margo Stilley • Not Rated • 108 min. • At Osio Theater