26 Aug Please The Palate Pick of the Week: The Trip to Spain movie
When asked what I love to do, I explain that I love to travel and explore different cultures. I especially liked to learn about cultures through their food and wine and a perfect outing for me is a delicious meal and good company. So a movie about traveling through the country while eating is very appealing to me. And the newly released The Trip to Spain, the third in a series of culinary road comedies featuring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, is just that. Gorgeous scenery, delicious-looking food and witty banter make the movie The Trip to Spain the Please The Plate pick of the week.
The Trip to Spain follows The Trip (2010) and The Trip to Italy (2014). In The Trip to Spain, slightly fictionalized versions of London-comedian-actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, head to Spain for a five day culinary trip. Brydon is going to review the restaurants for The New York Times and Coogan is doing publicity for a movie and plans to write a memoir. As they drive from town to town and restaurant to restaurant, witty banter and impersonations transpire as we see shots of the chef working in the kitchen, the food being served and then enjoyed.
The story is funny and sad. The two men are both in their early fifties, slightly narcissistic and confronted with aging. Coogan seems desperate as he tries to hold on to his career as an actor and writer. He is dating a younger woman and seems in denial about getting older and aging out of the game. Brydon is married with two young children and recognizes that he is an older parent, especially in a funny scene where he talks about age requirements for river rafting being between the ages of 8 and 55. I was laughing out loud as he mimicked trying to take his one-year-old son in rafting when he is 8 and how he will have to bring a fake id that makes him younger.
The two men impersonate Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Marlon Brando, Mick Jagger, Robert DeNiro, David Bowie and more as they talk about Spanish history and try to one up each other. And in between all of the humor, delectable dishes are served. My mouth was watering as I laughed out loud.
The Trip to Spain is entertaining and funny. And now all I can think about it going on a road trip to Spain and eat my way around the country.
Check out a preview of the movie.