THE TRIP TO GREECE is a poignant and hilarious meditation on life -- art, family, friendship, history, success and struggles and aging, and death -- that follows formula. By now, audiences ought to be familiar with the central conceit of these "trip" films: comedian friends Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon spend a week traveling a location and dining together. In transit, and over courses, they wax philosophical and compete over comedy and their careers. Essentially, these films are about two men suffering their friendship with each other while life goes on around them -- there is always at least one important sub-plot happening back home that complicates their plans. That said, formulaic needn't imply stale, and this presumably final installment of the series is very self-aware, a fact which helps it justify itself. If you are unsold on these films, this isn't the one that will sell you, and if you are unfamiliar with them, I'd start with the original, obviously... but if you have enjoyed any of the previous trips, this one is also worth taking, as you can live vicariously through them in seeing some gorgeous sights and savory dishes, especially now.
