Trip to Italy, The (Blu-ray) (2014)

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General		Extras
Category	Mockumentary	Interviews-Cast-Q&A with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon Featurette-Guy Grossi Recipe Theatrical Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	108:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Michael Winterbottom
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Steve Coogan Rob Brydon
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	?	Music	Various

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     It seemed an unlikely project for an entertaining TV series. Put comedians and actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon together and have them chat their way around the English Lake District whilst sampling the local restaurants. Instead of being a dull travelogue the witty pair turns a plotless journey into an entertaining TV series and film. That was The Trip a few years ago. Now, in 2014, the pair joins up again to journey through the beautiful Italian countryside sampling rustic hotels and glorious pasta. The by-line "anyone for seconds?" fairly much sums up the show. If you enjoyed the first series then this will be equally entertaining.

     The Trip to Italy, as with its predecessor, was a multi-part TV series which was then condensed for cinema viewing into a more palatable movie length. The six part TV series can be purchased separately. For those who have not seen The Trip, the show works so well because Coogan and Brydon play accentuated versions of themselves. Coogan is difficult at times and pretentious whilst Brydon is overly meek yet passive aggressive. When Brydon asks Coogan to explain what his legacy will be after his death, Coogan replies "six BAFTA's". When Brydon points out that he has only five BAFTA's Coogan quickly replies that he will undoubtedly get a Lifetime Achievement Award. It is those sorts of exchanges and the regular battle of impressions that carry the momentum of the show.

     Certainly there is no plot to speak of. There are plot incidents and bubbling marital discord and some classic insults. As with the first series the locations are often beautiful and the food amazing although it is not a cooking show - we watch the dishes being prepared, served and eaten without much in the way of explanation of their elements.

     As said, The Trip to Italy breaks no new ground however it is an ambling and always pleasant entertainment for a rainy Sunday.

Video

     The Trip to Italy was shot on high definition digital video and comes to Blu-ray in a 1.85:1 transfer consistent with the original aspect ratio.

     Whilst not much may have changed in the style of the show there is a definite improvement in the visual quality of this film as opposed to The Trip. Or perhaps it is that the Italian countryside seems so much more beautiful and vibrant. Whatever it is, there is an incredible sharpness on offer and the shots of the pair cruising in a yacht against the backdrop of the Italian coast could have been taken from an advertisement for the wonders of Italy.

    The flesh tones are accurate.

    There are no visual defects in the transfer.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
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Audio

     The Blu-ray of The Trip to Italy carries a DTS HD Master Audio English 5.1 sound track.

     As with the previous film this is slightly overkill for a film that largely consists of a couple of clever men sitting around eating and talking. Nevertheless the high bitrate transfer is appreciated.

     There are no defects with the transfer and all the dialogue can be heard clearly.

    The soundtrack features classical music from the great composers mixed with Alannis Morrisette (you'll have to watch the film to understand).

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     There are approximately 50 minutes of extras on this Blu-ray. These are:

Q&A with Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan

     This is a lengthy interview after the screening of the film. In fact most of it is taken up with the stories about the original film. Director, Michael Winterbottom got the pair involved and they started filming whilst driving around the Lake District. At the time neither knew whether it would be funny let alone a success. The Q&A session does get into some detail about the process of creating the scenes. Clearly Coogan and Brydon work well together and the Q&A is as full of jokes as the show itself.

Guy Grossi's "testaroli"

     The famous Melbourne Italian Chef Guy Grossi provides a recipe for one of his favourite Italian dishes, the "testaroli". It is an interesting addition.

Theatrical trailer

    The trailer for the film.

    Buy local.

    The Trip to Italy will surprise no one but will delight many of those who were fans of the original series and film. The Blu-ray quality is wonderful particularly in vision terms. The extras are pretty interesting.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall