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49 facts about the movie the trip.

Written by Faustine Campion

Modified & Updated: 05 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

The Trip is a critically acclaimed movie that takes audiences on a hilarious and heartwarming journey. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, this British comedy stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalized versions of themselves. The film follows their culinary tour through the stunning landscapes of England, as they review restaurants and engage in witty banter along the way.

With its clever blend of comedy, food, and stunning vistas, The Trip offers a unique and entertaining viewing experience. Coogan and Brydon’s impeccable chemistry, combined with Winterbottom’s directorial vision, make this film a must-watch for any movie lover.

In this article, we will delve into 49 fascinating facts about The Trip that will enhance your appreciation for this remarkable film. From behind-the-scenes stories to interesting trivia, get ready to be immersed in the world of The Trip like never before.

Key Takeaways:

• “The Trip” is a hilarious and heartwarming comedy film about two friends on a food-filled road trip through England, featuring stunning landscapes and improvised humor.
• “The Trip” showcases the comedic talents of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, blending food, travel, and friendship in a must-watch movie experience.

The Trip is a comedy film directed by Michael Winterbottom.

The Trip is a comedy film directed by Michael Winterbottom that was released in 2010.

The film stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play fictionalized versions of themselves in the film.

It is a follow-up to the TV series of the same name.

The Trip originated as a TV series in the UK before being adapted into a feature film.

The Trip follows the story of two friends on a culinary road trip through England.

The film revolves around Steve and Rob as they travel to different restaurants and indulge in fine dining.

The movie features stunning locations across England.

The Trip showcases picturesque landscapes and famous landmarks throughout its duration.

The dialogue in the film was largely improvised.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon were given a general outline for each scene and relied on improvisation to deliver their lines.

Many of the interactions between Steve and Rob are humorous and playful.

The chemistry between Coogan and Brydon shines through in their witty banter and impersonations.

The film incorporates elements of comedy and drama.

While it is primarily a comedy, The Trip also touches on deeper themes of friendship and identity.

The Trip received critical acclaim upon its release.

The film was praised for its performances, humor, and beautiful cinematography.

It was nominated for several awards, including the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.

The Trip was recognized for its excellence in writing, acting, and overall production.

The movie has spawned three sequels: The Trip to Italy, The Trip to Spain, and The Trip to Greece.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon continued their on-screen adventures in subsequent films set in different countries.

Each film in the series follows a similar format of food, travel, and lively conversations.

The Trip films are known for their combination of gastronomy and comedy.

The characters portrayed by Coogan and Brydon are exaggerated versions of themselves.

While based on their real personas, they incorporate fictional elements for comedic effect.

The Trip is known for its impressive array of food shots.

The film showcases mouthwatering dishes from the various restaurants visited by the characters.

It features frequent celebrity impressions by Coogan and Brydon.

The two actors engage in friendly competition, showcasing their abilities to mimic famous personalities.

The soundtrack of the film includes a mix of popular songs and original compositions.

The music adds to the overall ambiance and sets the tone for each scene.

The cinematography captures the essence of the locations visited.

The stunning visuals transport the audience to the picturesque landscapes of England.

The Trip serves as a showcase for the culinary delights of the British countryside.

It highlights regional dishes and local ingredients, giving viewers a taste of British cuisine.

The film explores themes of nostalgia and self-reflection.

The characters examine their pasts and contemplate their personal and professional lives.

The Trip strikes a balance between light-hearted humor and poignant moments.

It seamlessly shifts between comedy and drama, creating a multifaceted viewing experience.

The movie was inspired by the road trip genre, combining elements of travelogue and comedy.

It pays homage to classic road trip films while adding its own unique twist.

The script for The Trip was primarily an outline with improvised dialogue.

This allowed the actors to bring their own personalities and comedic talents to the forefront.

The film has a naturalistic and documentary-style approach to filmmaking.

It creates an intimate and believable atmosphere, making the audience feel like they are part of the journey.

The Trip features stunning cinematography of the British countryside.

The landscapes are captured with breathtaking beauty, showcasing the diverse regions of England.

The film serves as a showcase for the comedic talents of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

Their chemistry and comedic timing are a major highlight of the film.

The Trip explores the complexities of friendship and the passage of time.

Steve and Rob’s relationship is tested throughout their journey, leading to moments of reflection and introspection.

The movie is renowned for its sharp and witty dialogue.

The conversations between the characters are filled with clever one-liners and humorous exchanges.

The Trip combines elements of comedy, drama, and travelogue genres.

This unique blend of genres allows for a diverse and engaging viewing experience.

The film has a relaxed and leisurely pace, mirroring the slow-paced nature of a road trip.

The pacing allows the audience to savor each scene and immerse themselves in the journey.

The Trip celebrates the art of fine dining and culinary craftsmanship.

It showcases the passion and dedication of chefs and highlights the artistry behind each dish.

The movie captures the essence of the British sense of humor.

The humor is dry, witty, and often delivered in a deadpan manner.

The Trip received positive reviews for its authenticity and realistic portrayal of a friendship.

The dynamic between Steve and Rob feels genuine and relatable.

The film’s success led to its adaptation into a TV series and subsequent sequels.

Following the positive reception of the movie, The Trip became a popular franchise.

The Trip showcases the beauty of England’s countryside, from rolling hills to coastal vistas.

The stunning imagery transports viewers to the scenic landscapes of the United Kingdom.

The movie explores the fascinating world of gastronomy and culinary exploration.

It delves into the passion and creativity behind creating and experiencing exquisite food.

The Trip has become a cult classic and has gained a dedicated fanbase.

The film’s unique blend of comedy and travel has resonated with audiences around the world.

The movie offers a humorous commentary on the food and restaurant industry.

Steve and Rob’s comedic observations provide a satirical perspective on the culinary world.

The Trip features breathtaking aerial shots of the English countryside.

The aerial cinematography showcases the vast beauty of the landscapes visited by the characters.

The film’s success is largely attributed to the chemistry between Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

Their natural rapport and comedic timing elevate the film to another level.

The trip serves as a love letter to the British Isles, showcasing its charm and cultural heritage.

The locations visited in the film highlight the rich history and beauty of England.

The movie explores the concept of success and the pursuit of happiness.

Steve and Rob grapple with their achievements and question their paths in life.

The Trip is known for its humorous and entertaining celebrity impressions.

Steve and Rob’s impersonations of famous individuals provide laughs throughout the film.

The film has a naturalistic and unfiltered approach to storytelling.

It blurs the line between fiction and reality, creating an authentic and engaging narrative.

The Trip highlights the importance of food in culture and personal experiences.

Each meal serves as a catalyst for conversation and reflection.

The movie is filled with scenic drives and breathtaking landscapes.

The road trip element adds to the sense of adventure and discovery.

The Trip explores the themes of identity and self-discovery.

Steve and Rob’s journey allows them to confront their own values and priorities.

The film seamlessly blends reality with fiction, creating an intriguing narrative.

The line between what is real and what is fictionalized becomes blurred throughout the film.

The Trip offers a fresh and humorous take on the buddy road trip genre.

It breathes new life into a familiar formula, making it a standout film in its genre.

The Trip is a must-watch for fans of comedy, travel, and culinary delights.

With its sharp writing, stellar performances, and stunning visuals, The Trip has something to offer for everyone.

In conclusion, The Trip is a captivating and entertaining movie that has captured the hearts of many movie enthusiasts. With its brilliant cast, stunning cinematography, and thought-provoking storyline, the film offers a unique and enjoyable cinematic experience. Whether you’re a fan of comedy, drama, or even culinary adventures, The Trip has something for everyone. It is filled with unforgettable moments, witty humor, and an exploration of both personal and professional relationships. This movie is a true gem that showcases the talents of its actors and the skill of the filmmakers. If you haven’t watched The Trip yet, make sure to add it to your must-watch list, as it promises to take you on a journey that you won’t soon forget.

Q: Who are the main actors in The Trip?

A: The main actors in The Trip are Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

Q: What is the storyline of The Trip?

A: The Trip follows the story of two friends who embark on a culinary road trip across Europe, visiting various restaurants and indulging in delicious food while engaging in witty banter and humorous conversations.

Q: Is The Trip based on a true story?

A: The Trip is not based on a true story. However, it does feature real-life actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, playing fictionalized versions of themselves.

Q: Is The Trip suitable for all audiences?

A: The Trip is rated R for language and some sexual content. Therefore, it may not be suitable for young audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.

Q: Are there any sequels to The Trip?

A: Yes, there are two sequels to The Trip. They are: The Trip to Italy and The Trip to Spain. Both films continue the adventures of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they explore different countries and culinary delights.

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‘The Trip’ Review: With This Gun, I Thee Shoot

In this Norwegian thriller on Netflix, a murderous couple get more bloodshed than they bargained for.

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By Lena Wilson

Most people don’t prepare for getaways with their spouses by buying a hammer, a hacksaw, duct tape and rope — but Lars (Aksel Hennie) is not most people, and “The Trip,” directed by Tommy Wirkola, is not most movies. Its initial premise is this: Lars has planned to murder his wife, Lisa (Noomi Rapace), during their holiday, but he’s thwarted when it turns out Lisa has been preparing to do away with him on the very same trip. Unfortunately, while that concept promises a fun, agile thriller, “The Trip” all too quickly descends into a juvenile, nihilistic mess.

Lars and Lisa’s mutual blood bath turns into a group affair when some unexpected outsiders, including the escaped convicts Dave (Christian Rubeck), Roy (Andre Eriksen) and Petter (Atle Antonsen), coincidentally join the fray. Each actor gamely tackles the ensuing violence and emotional turbulence, and Rapace is particularly excellent at juggling the two. The film reveals its many surprises through flashbacks, sharp editing and an absurd script clearly aiming for irreverence.

But “The Trip” upsets its own tenuous balance of darkness and drollery, grasping at tasteless material about genitals and poop, though its basic premise is much smarter — and perfectly delightful — on its own. Such artlessness turns what could be a quick, jaunty movie into a slog. By the end of a protracted attempted rape sequence, I was dismayed to discover that I was only halfway through its two-hour duration.

“The Trip” is occasionally fun, but other films have handled gleeful gore and psychological torture with a far more skillful touch. The film pays clear homage to Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games,” a whip-smart commentary on cinematic violence. It doesn’t do itself any favors by inviting that comparison.

The Trip Not rated. In Norwegian, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 53 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

Lena Wilson is a project manager at The New York Times and a freelance writer covering film, TV, technology and lesbian culture. More about Lena Wilson

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The Trip (2021) Review – A Home Invasion Black-Comedy cum Splatter Gorefest

Norwegian screenwriter and filmmaker Tommy Wirkola, known for his affinity to blend horror with comedy in both Dead Snow films and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters , is back with yet another dark comedy. Starring Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie, The Trip is a genre-bending blend of black comedy and home invasion action thriller that brashly mixes the familiar tropes of irreverent humour, inappropriate jokes, grotesque head splatter, and overflowing bloodbath. It is a wild ride that indulges in a unique mix of entertaining and funny as well as cringeworthy and wincing moments of laughter, violence, and satire.

Originally titled I Onde Danger in the Norwegian language, it follows a dysfunctional couple Lars and Lisa who heads out of the city to a remote cabin in the long weekend to apparently reconnect, but with sinister and murderous intentions for each other. When the film commences, Lars is introduced as a failed filmmaker who is stalled out in cheesy soap operas. He repeatedly tells his crew as well as his cantankerous father that he and Lisa are going to the cabin where she is determined to take a dangerous hike. He is also shown buying a hammer, a hacksaw, duct tape and rope that gives away his nefarious plans for his spouse.

Related to The Trip (I Onde Danger) – THE MIXED REACTIONS TO LARS VON TRIER’S THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

Lisa is also dissatisfied in her life as a struggling actress known for her role in an erectile dysfunction commercial. She indulges in having an affair with Diego when Lars neglects and forsakes her. She is also drafting a wicked plan involving an accident during a hunting expedition that will be detrimental to the life of Lars.

But the arrival of the jailbirds on loose, the absurd and savage trio Roy, Petter, and Dave who chose the isolated cabin to remain inconspicuous, interrupted the planned executions of Lars and Lisa. Caught in the crossfire, Lars and Lisa confront threatening circumstances and embarrassing and demeaning situations while dealing with the triad of the Nazi, the rapist and the murderer.

What follows between the adversaries is a series of comic and catastrophic complications and unforeseen turn of events that results in a bloody dismemberment of those who get in the way. Spanning almost two hours, The Trip goes on for too long, though it slowly heightens up the violence from a bickering couple squabbling over domestic disagreements to an aggressive hostage situation to finally a fairly nasty and bloody gorefest.

Also, Read – Blue My Mind [2018]: Fantasia Film Festival Review

Noomi Rapace as Lisa and Aksel Hennie as Lars create the resemblance of a couple involved in an unhealthy and toxic relationship and also showcases the perfect chemistry in their extraordinary comedic skills together and individually. The initial car ride gives us a glimpse of the disgust and hatred the couple has for each other as they derive pleasure from taunting and provoking each other, from a silly board game quarrel to their future prospects in their respective careers. Lars’ bittersweet characterisation of a betrayed and sulky husband is contrasted with Lisa’s caricature of Lars as a spoiled and self-centered person who struggles financially. The relatively short establishing scenes recognise the passive aggression between the protagonists which later turns into mutual bloodshed.

The film is structured in such a way that it has an unessential episodic quality where every new piece of information is divulged by going back in time to depict how those plot developments came to be. With every new character who appears out of nowhere, the film immediately backtracks and retract to a few days before to supply that character’s backstory up to the present. It is a clever way of narration but slows down the narrative’s propulsion to move forward more than necessary. It was also felt that the film could have gained a bit of pace and tempo at some scenes where sequences could have been condensed.

The Trip consistently follows the conventions of splatter cinema mixing it with elements of comedy in the graphic depiction of gore and violence. The spectacle of the physical destruction of the body adds to the bloodiness and it explicitly portrays the punches in the face, broken legs, shotgun shots, and the gore with a lawnmower. The bloodfest after the blows, the bruises, and the severed limbs are captured in colourful detail. Apart from the trio of prison escapees, the meddlesome neighbour and the deus ex machina were also found involved in the grand scheme of things as the film takes an increasingly farcical drift.

Similar to The Trip (I Onde Danger) – Knives and Skin [2019]: ‘Fantasia’ Review – A Curated mess you would like to watch

Wirkola’s influence of classical filmmakers like Haneke, Tarantino , and Coel brothers is evident in the film, but it is also comprehensible that other films have handled gleeful gore and psychological torture with a far more skilful touch. The Trip utilises the same premise of Michael Haneke’s classic home invasion horror Funny Games (2007), but instead of the psychological sadistic games, Wikola creates chaotic situations through dark humour and a splattery conclusion. The musical score of The Trip resembles that of the Tarantino style and Wirkola has used well-known Norwegian songs to enhance the momentum and immediacy to place the spectators in a crescendo.

The film is not without inconsistencies as it occasionally disturbs the tenuous balance of grotesque and gloomy, utilising tasteless and poor references and materials. The film is interspersed with politically incorrect jokes, poop references, puns and gory gags which pushes down the narrative in poor taste. The film also takes a nosedive when it delves into threats of sexual assault and rape as it feels too dark for black humour. The treatment of meta-filmic and meta-television satire within the narrative provided the quality of an advertisement furthering the sense of estrangement in the spectators.

In spite of being entertaining, the film offers nothing new that distinctly captures the notice of the audience. If one leaves aside the discrepancies and recoiling elements, it will be well-received by the viewers of Tommy Wirkola’s movies. But it is undeniable that The Trip, with its abundance of violence and bloodshed, is not a movie that suits everyone.

The Trip (I Onde Danger) is now streaming on Netflix

The Trip (I Onde Danger) Links – IMDb The Trip (I Onde Danger) Cast – Noomi Rapace, Aksel Hennie, André Eriksen, Atle Antonsen, Christian Rubeck

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An unapologetic feminist and vocal critic of sexism. A moody, caffeine-dependant, procrastinating disaster striving for perfection. Believes in the transformative power of any art, especially Cinema and Books.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Clever road-trip comedy has swearing, drugs, sex references.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Passive aggressiveness, bickering, and self-center

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play fictionalized ver

Brief discussion about child abuse.

Some innuendo. Character sleeps with several peopl

Innuendo and some language, including "c--t" "f--k

Characters regularly drink alcohol -- usually wine

Parents need to know that The Trip is a hilarious feature-length movie made from a British six-part comedy-drama TV series about two friends who travel around northern England reviewing restaurants. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, it has the two lead characters, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, improvising…

Positive Messages

Passive aggressiveness, bickering, and self-centeredness are on display throughout. Any positive messages can only be read between the lines, as the movie serves as a cautionary tale of how ego and careerism can corrupt a person's life.

Positive Role Models

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play fictionalized versions of themselves. Coogan sleeps around and takes drugs. His infidelity is discussed. Brydon is personable and friendly. Both characters hold their children in high regard, and Brydon is shown to be a loving family man.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some innuendo. Character sleeps with several people. Couple discuss having phone sex.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Innuendo and some language, including "c--t" "f--k," "f--king," "ass," "pisses," "Christ," "Jesus," and "s--t."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters regularly drink alcohol -- usually wine -- at meals, but also alone in a hotel room. A character smokes a cigarette and a joint. A character is seen -- from behind -- taking cocaine. A discussion about heroin and teenage drinking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Trip is a hilarious feature-length movie made from a British six-part comedy-drama TV series about two friends who travel around northern England reviewing restaurants. Directed by Michael Winterbottom , it has the two lead characters, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon , improvising passive-aggressive fictional versions of themselves. The two are continually locked in a battle of one-upmanship as they try to outdo each other with impersonations and argue about their careers and behavior. Coogan's character is an insecure, jealous womanizer, who smokes a joint during the movie and has sex with multiple women -- although this is suggested rather than seen. A female companion of Coogan's takes cocaine, and it's assumed he does, too. Brydon is more likable, portrayed as a family man, albeit with a big, but fragile, ego. Much of the jokes and impersonations feature strong language, including "c--t" and variants of "f--k." There is a "joke" about Coogan having been an alter boy and whether he was abused or not. The restaurant scenes also involve drinking alcohol, and there is some cigarette smoking. The Trip is the first in a series of movies. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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What's the Story?

In THE TRIP, a fictionalized version of the actor Steve Coogan is sent by a newspaper on a week-long tour of high-end restaurants in the north of England. When his girlfriend drops out, he asks his friend, Rob Brydon , to go with him. But as the pair spend more time together, their egos clash.

Is It Any Good?

This comedy-drama is a deceptively deep and downbeat character study. Originally aired in the U.K. as a six-part TV series, The Trip is best known for the YouTube clips of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon battling over dinner to see who can do the best celebrity impersonations. But there's far more to this feature-length movie than who does the best Michael Caine . Coogan and Brydon have both done excellent work with director Michael Winterbottom before ( 24 Hour Party People , A Cock and Bull Story ) and here, between the bombast of the impersonations, the director draws out of them superb performances portraying actors desperately driven by ego.

Based on real-life tabloid reports of his life, Coogan's character comes out worst: a self-centered, jealous womanizer for whom nothing appears to be enough. The movie's masterstroke is how this character is relatively loathsome but still carries pathos. Set against the beautifully shot but bleak landscape of northern England, it has an undercurrent of melancholia that makes the end of the week-long trip feel almost a relief. But the journey is entirely worth it to see such subtle but pitch-perfect performances that linger long after the movie ends.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the amount of strong language in The Trip . Was it necessary to the story? Who do you think the movie's intended audience is? How can you tell?

Discuss the movie's attitude toward sex . Do characters seem more interested in casual sex or in establishing deeper connections?

How are smoking, drinking, and drugs portrayed in the movie? Do you think substance use is glamorized or shown in a positive light? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?

Talk about Coogan and Brydon's relationship. Would you call them friends? What do you think was the cause of some of their clashes? What makes a good friendship?

What do you think makes a world-class restaurant?

Movie Details

• In theaters : June 10, 2011
• On DVD or streaming : October 11, 2011
• Cast : Steve Coogan , Rob Brydon , Rebecca Johnson
• Director : Michael Winterbottom
• Studio : IFC Films
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Cooking and Baking , Friendship , Holidays
• Run time : 112 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : March 30, 2023

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Trip’ on Netflix, a Bleak Comedy That Elevates Marital Discord to a Bloody New Level

Where to stream:.

• The Trip (2021)

• noomi rapace

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Netflix’s The Trip is — well, I was going to give the usual spiel about it being a Norwegian black comedy-slash-thriller starring Noomi Rapace ( The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo , Prometheus ) and directed by Tommy Wirkola of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters fame, but I’m just gonna cut to the chase and say it’s some sick shit. And as most sick shit goes, its smooth-as-guts-in-a-blender-set-on-puree mix of yucks and yuks is very much a take-it-or-leave-it affair.

THE TRIP : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: For some reason, The Trip doesn’t open with a crazy scene that’s on the precarious lip of a suspenseful cliff before flashing back to the beginning — it just opens at the beginning. How very novel! So, a husband and wife sit in bed arguing and the conversation gets pretty nutty and out there and, as we suspected, they’re just actors on the set of a soap opera. Lars (Aksel Hennie) is the director. He chitchats with a co-worker about how he and his wife are going up to the cabin this weekend and he stresses repeatedly how she wants to go on a long hike into the mountains, and isn’t that dangerous? On his way home, he stops to visit his dad at the nursing home so the old man can question his manhood. Then he goes to the hardware emporium for a hammer, a hacksaw, some rope and duct tape — you know, the Serial Killer Special, $49.95.

He picks up Lisa (Rapace), and the bickering starts immediately. Needling. Irritation. Teensy little digs. Death by 1,000 cuts on both sides. Their professional lives are lousy and the poison’s bled into their personal lives. They get to the cabin and as he unloads his collection of suspicious tools, the camera lingers on a cabinet full of shotguns, and as she mills about the kitchen, the camera gets a lensful of butcher and bread knives. Why? No reason. Just the usual stuff you’d find in a cabin in the Norwegian forest where you might go hunting and then need to cut up the animal you killed.

Lars and Lisa drive each other nuts cooking and eating dinner, and before bed they play a game of Scrabble that only further sledgehammers the wedge between them. The next day, we follow Lars as he fetches the hammer from the basement and heads to the kitchen for two belts of booze, and the camera angle for this shot is canted, oh so very canted. He sneaks up behind Lisa and before he can ballpeen a hole in her skull she quickly turns around and tases him. It’s probably safe to say that marital counseling would be pointless at this stage of their relationship.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: The War of the Røsens ! (Yeah, I know, Røsen is Swedish, not Norwegian. Just give me this one!)

Performance Worth Watching: Rapace and Hennie are equally excellent at playing shitty people, pairing nicely like fava beans with a nice Chianti.

Memorable Dialogue: Lars gets in the nastiest dig ever (decontextualized to avoid a spoiler): “Maybe you’ll be satisfied now.”

Sex and Skin: None, but be warned, there are disturbing scenes of sexual assault.

Our Take: …Then again, Lars and Lisa do seem to finally be on the same page, homicidal though it may be, so loll that sweet and sticky caramel-flavored irony around in your mouth for a minute there. The revelation that they want to kill each other in the most literal fashion comes at the 21-minute mark of a 114-minute movie, so it’s not a spoiler to say things escalate from there, via a game of one-upspersonship that goes from cold to violent to utterly ruthless to extremely violent to repulsive to even more extremely violent to thoroughly complicated to flat-out gory as hell. And yes, other characters get involved, lest it get too repetitive. If you can hang with it through its demented twists and turns — no guarantees, love it or hate it, no deposit no return, mileage may vary, etc. — it’ll be to see what resolution Wirkola and co-screenwriters Nick Ball and John Niven came up with, and not because you root for any of these people, who are, at best, poor examples of the human species.

So I guess that means The Trip exists in the satire realm, where marital discord is depicted with immense exaggeration and grotesque homicidal impulses are rendered in rich, bloody reds. One wonders if Lars and Lisa find this elevation of confrontation therapeutic, going from passive-aggressive to insanely aggressive, dropping the sniper rifles for a knife fight, sometimes not at all in a metaphorical fashion. Wirkola occasionally crosses the line between bad taste (which is good; think John Waters) and tastelessness (which is bad; think R-rated Adam Sandler vehicles), spending the majority of the budget on burst blood vessels in eyes and viscous strings of various bodily fluids drooling from mouths and hamburgered knees and innards turned into out-ards — total gorebuckets, more splatter than two or three of those wussy middling slasher movies they make for eight-year-olds these days, he said, nudge wink grain of salt.

Anyway, the movie adheres to the cliche that all is fair in love and war. It’s amusing and irreverent, bleak and repulsive — and therefore an exercise in cognitive dissonance, I guess. It’s definitely conceived more in sickness than in health. For better or worse. ’Til death by disembowelment or shotgun do we part. I’m gonna stop there.

Our Call: STREAM IT. The Trip is far from great, and at its best, it’s barely good. But it inspires a few choking laughs, it’s challenging in its unpleasantness, and it’s likely to satisfy any iron stomachs who are up to the task.

Will you stream or skip the Noomi Rapace black comedy/thriller #TheTrip on @netflix ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) October 16, 2021

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter: @johnserba.

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Series / The Trip

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The Trip is a 2010 British comedy-drama directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as... Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon . Originally a six-part BBC television series, it was recut and released as a feature film in 2011.

A follow-on from A Cock and Bull Story by the same creative team, it involves and uses a lot of the same Post Modern meta elements; the plot involves Coogan getting a job writing restaurant reviews for the Observer in an attempt to impress his epicure girlfriend Mischa (Margot Stilley), only for the plan to hit a snag when he and Mischa have an argument and split up. In desperation, he ends up convincing his old comedian colleague Brydon to come along instead, thus prompting a week of fine dining, beautiful scenery and the two men getting on each other's nerves.

A sequel, The Trip to Italy , was released in 2014. It follows Coogan and Brydon on a trip to Italy when the pair are asked by The Observer to produce a follow-up series of articles. Notable for the new Italian scenery and for Coogan and Brydon subtly exchanging roles .

A third installment, The Trip to Spain , was released in 2017, while the fourth, The Trip to Greece , began airing on Sky One in March 2020. Despite some earlier talk of The Trip to Ireland , Coogan has indicated that the fourth installment is the last.

Provides examples of:

• As Himself : Coogan and Brydon play heightened versions of themselves, or at least their personas as the public generally view them; Coogan as spiky and slightly pretentious with a troubled personal life, Brydon as amiable, likely to slip into an impression without warning, and a bit irritating.
• The Trip to Italy ends with Steve reconnecting with his son at the latter's relatively mature age, while Rob is practically bragging about how he cheated on his wife while on holiday.
• The Trip to Spain The two girls go home, then Rob goes back to his family, leaving Steve pottering around on his lonesome in the Range Rover, clearly suffering from writer's block and loneliness despite his pretensions to become the next Hemingway. Finally he persuades his old flame (whom he has discovered is pregnant with someone else's child) from the first Trip to meet him in Spain... only it's All Just a Dream . He's actually asleep in the car on a dirt road as some suspicious looking "freedom fighter" posse in a pickup truck bear down on him.
• The Trip to Greece : The trip is cut short by the death of Steve's elderly father. While Rob continues the trip with his wife Sally, Steve returns to England to grieve with his family.
• Bourgeois Bohemian : Steve definitely comes across as a bit of a champagne socialist who pontificates on art, poetry and history while dining at fancy restaurants and driving in posh cars. Amusingly he gets very prickly when meeting the Hipster busker in Spain, (though not entirely without reason ), who is basically just a younger more trendy version of him. Rob, by contrast, is much more of a luvvie .
• Beautifully illustrated in a scene where Coogan and Brydon try to get into Wordsworth's cottage, only for the old lady at the entrance booth to point out that they've stopped selling tickets. Coogan tries to argue his way in, but the lady doesn't recognise him — she does , however, recognise Brydon, who genially charms her into letting them in while Coogan is left to seethe in the background.
• Throughout the editing contrasts the free holiday the pair are getting with their much less serene working lives. When they aren't living it up in top restaurants they are often on the phone to their agents, or fretting that their careers aren't as successful as they hoped and where the next job is coming from. Truth in Television of course, for most folks in showbusiness.
• Chaste Hero : In Greece Steve mocks Rob when he's slyly watching some women towelling themselves off and Rob is shocked to see that Steve is staring at their bent-over backsides. Steve expects that Rob thinks people are like Action Man downstairs.
• Classically-Trained Extra : Although not exactly classically trained, Steve views himself something like this, resenting that he's not the A-list star he feels he should be. Rob, on the other hand, couldn't really give a toss.
• Cliffhanger Copout : The Trip to Spain abruptly ends with Steve stranded alone in the Moroccan desert being approached by a group of jihadists in a car. The Trip To Greece begins with Steve and Rob already together, and the only mention of this cliffhanger is when Rob chides Emma for always worrying about Steve, highlighting Steve's brief "disappearance" in Morocco as an example.
• Also an unusual Ironic Echo as prior to this conversation, Steve frustratedly laments to his American manager he feels like the tortoise compared to a number of hares who are passing him, after assurances he'll get the career he wants eventually.
• Faster Than They Look : Steve talks a lot in Greece about how in shape he is for his age and tells a waitress how well he swims. When they do get down to an impromptu race in the sea, Rob beats him.
• Inverted in The Trip to Italy . Steve is the one making efforts to reconnect with his family, while Rob is ambivalent about family life and cheats on his wife at the first opportunity.
• Food Porn : Not only do we get to see the dishes Rob and Steve eat, we also get to see the chefs preparing each dish.
• When they're arguing about their James Bond impressions Steve accuses Rob of frequently going over the top with his performances. Annoyed, Rob points out that Steve himself doesn't exactly have a reputation as 'a master of understatement'.
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall : The first episode of The Trip to Italy opens with Rob inviting Steve on another trip because "people liked the first one", referring in-universe to the articles they wrote about the first trip. Later, they talk about how sequels are rarely as good as the original, with rare exceptions like The Godfather Part II .
• Literal Metaphor : when Steve gets stuck halfway across a series of stepping stones across a river, Rob is quick to point out that he's "stuck in a metaphor". Then Steve falls into the river.
• Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places : Hinted to be the case with Steve; he's divorced, his girlfriend has dumped him, and while he does successfully seduce several women over the course of the series / movies these are merely a string of meaningless one-night stands that ultimately seem to bring him little satisfaction or happiness.
• Developed on as part of the Swapped Roles subtly invoked in the sequel series, as Steve seems much more content with his lot and is happy to bring up the success of the recent I, Partridge, autobiograpgy.
• Man of a Thousand Voices : Brydon is depicted as prone to slipping into an impression at the drop of a hat. This irritates Coogan no end. However, since Coogan himself is no slouch when it comes to impressions (although he stoutly denies that he's an impressionist), the two often end up competing about who does the best one.
• Oop North : The series covers several real-life Northern English restaurants.
• The Trip To Italy takes the baton and runs with this, being set in Italy, with wonderful shots of sprawling beaches, rustic old towns and vineyards.
• The sequel piece has further shout-outs to The Dark Knight Rises , with the two mocking the voices of the film's heroic and villainous leads.
• Speech-Centric Work : An essentially plotless series of conversations between the two characters.

• Swapped Roles : In the sequel, The Trip To Italy , it appears that the two have exchanged places. Coogan is happy and content to bring up the success of his autobiography for Alan Partridge, as opposed to downplaying the importance of the character in his life, and is making an effort to make stronger ties with his kids. By contrast, Brydon is now the one keen to get away from his suburban life, and eventually beds a woman despite being married with children. Brydon is also the one to propose the trip, as it is revealed he essentially ghost-wrote the initial articles for the UK restaurants on Steve's behalf.
• Take That! : At one point in the first series, Steve gripes on the phone to his agent that he doesn't want to get cast in Doctor Who as an alien or something.
• The Cameo : In one of Steve's dreams, Ben Stiller plays Coogan's agent, who tells him that he the most wanted actor in Hollywood.
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Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits

By laila lalami, hope and other dangerous pursuits summary and analysis of "the trip".

Murad has pondered what it will be like in Spain hundreds of times over the last year as he weighed the risks in making the crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar. He has many hopes and dreams. It is a calm night. Thirty people are crowded onto the inflatable Zodiac meant for eight. The coastline is closer with every breath Murad takes. They are heading to Tarifa, the mainland point of the Moorish invasion of 711.

Murad knows life will be hard there, but it will be worth it and he knows he can succeed even if others cannot. After all, he has a degree in English and speaks Spanish fluently.

Murad is sitting next to a young woman, Faten. She is wearing a headscarf, which he scoffs at inwardly, knowing she will stick out once in Spain. There is Aziz , who is trying to cross for the second time. Next to him is a middle-aged man with greasy hair whom Murad decides to name “ Scarface .” Scarface looks at a little girl near him, which makes Halima, her mother, uncomfortable. Murad thinks Halima is foolish to risk her children’s lives on the crossing but admires the way she conducts herself. A Guinean woman sits next to Aziz. She throws up on Faten’s shoes and is immediately apologetic and embarrassed.

Murad thinks of the stories he has heard of illegals who were not so lucky, but his thoughts are interrupted with the sudden idling of the motor. Rahal , the captain, curses and fiddles with a cable. Faten starts crying and moaning that the trip is cursed. Aziz moves to figure out if he can fix it while Scarface growls at Faten to be quiet and Murad defends her. Aziz manages to tape a gap and they are on their way again.

Tarifa is about 250 meters away and the sea is still calm, but Murad knows not to trust the Mediterranean. To his shock, Rahal demands everyone get out of the boat and swim the rest of the distance. They are incredulous. Halima says they paid to be taken to the shore but Rahal does not care, and tells them he isn’t going to risk it. Someone stands up and the boat tips and they plunge into the water.

Murad is slammed by the cold. Despite his heavy clothes and discombobulation, he knows there is nothing he can do but swim, and he starts making his way to shore. He sees Aziz swimming; he looks like he will make it. Faten grabs onto Murad and he realizes she cannot swim, but she is pulling him down and keeping him in one place. He breaks away from her, knowing he will drown if she holds on and will freeze if he stays in place.

He makes it to shore but cannot see Faten. He does not have much time before the Guardia Civil is upon him, so he calls Rubio, the man who is supposed to pick him up and drive him to Catalonia. Rubio tells him to wait by the sugarcane. As Murad finally relaxes and starts to let his mind go to all the things he will do now that he is here, a flashlight shines on him.

Murad sits shivering with the other “illegals,” trying to think of how he could have made it to safety. At one point he takes off running but is caught again. Inside the building he sees a lot of illegals, many of them from other boats. There is no sign of Aziz, who must have made it, but he is relieved to see Faten.

A woman in a dark suit tells them all to sign a piece of paper when the guards come around. Murad gives a fake name but knows it doesn’t matter. On the way to the holding cell, he sees a body bag and vomits.

Inside the cell he thinks of how he failed and will have to go back to his mother and sister and to being a burden on them. Yet if Aziz could make it, he can, Murad thinks, and he must try again. If his mother will sell her gold bracelets, he will have the money and next time he will succeed.

Laila Lalami is a Moroccan immigrant just like her characters in Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits , but unlike them, she came from a wealthy family, chose to leave to pursue education, and immigrated through legal means. This did not mean she was not sympathetic to, and did not want to understand the motivations of, people who chose to leave Morocco for Spain through dangerous, illegal means with very slim chances of success in both the crossing and their (potentially) new home. She read news stories of these individuals, then turned to more extensive research and began writing her own novel.

In an interview with Three Monkeys, Lalami explained, “I wanted a title that would contain both the positive and negative aspects of the immigration experience. Although they come from different cities in Morocco and although they are leaving the country for different reasons, my characters all share a deep hope of a better tomorrow. What intrigued me was the idea that they were risking their very lives for the sake of a better life. A very dangerous gamble. So I wanted a title that had both hope and danger in it, which is how it came about.” This places Lalami in a contemporary tradition of Arab diasporic writers, Lisa Marchi notes: “contemporary Arab diasporic authors chronicle the turbulent experience of illegal migrants by elaborating narratives that are both entertaining and politically engaged. With deep humanity and fresh creativity, these writers develop powerful stories that free the migrant from the invisibility that keeps him/ her hostage and shed light on some of the crucial tensions—between for instance homeland and country of immigration, mobility and immobility, visibility and invisibility, locals and new comers, hosts and guests—that underpin migration.”

In the first section of the novel, “The Trip,” we get insight into the general reasons why crossing the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain—even in a terrifyingly unsafe boat on a potentially rough sea with the likelihood of being captured by Civil Guard and deported—is something Moroccans might want to undergo. Murad thinks, “He spent hours thinking of what he would do once he was on the other side, imagining the job, the car, the house… he wondered how fourteen kilometers could separate not just two countries but two universes” (1). As we will learn later, all four of the characters have things they are fleeing, things that are worth the crossing: Murad has no job opportunities; Aziz has no job opportunities; Halima is fleeing an abusive husband and wants a better life for her children; Faten is poor and in trouble for saying something critical about King Hassan.

Of course, while all of their stories are different, what undergirds all of them is that Morocco is not a place with equal economic opportunity for all. It is heavily stratified by class with little to no economic mobility. US News reports, “Despite Morocco's economic progress, high unemployment, poverty and illiteracy continue to plague the country. Morocco is also involved in territorial disputes, over both the Western Sahara and several islands under Spanish control. Human rights groups complain of ongoing restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly.” And Freedom House states, “Nearly all Moroccans are Muslims, and the king, identified as ‘commander of the faithful’ in the constitution, has ultimate authority over religious affairs. Imams are required to obtain state certification, and mosques are monitored by the authorities. The government operates a well-financed training program for imams and female religious counselors tasked with promoting a state-sanctioned version of ‘moderate Islam,’ which some critics charge is also intended to promote political quiescence.”

For the immigrants, Spain is close and it is full of promise. As Ilham Boutob writes, “The opening passage of the novel sheds light on how Spain, or Europe in general, stands as a sort of paradise or Eldorado that must be reached at all costs.” Though the horror stories of what might happen on the crossing and once in Spain percolate the consciousness of would-be immigrants, it’s clear that the risks are outweighed by the potential rewards.

Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What are the motives that drive Faten, in Lalami's Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, to leave home and risk her life for unclear prospects?

The four main characters have different reasons for leaving their homes, families, and friends, but they all essentially have the same conviction that Morocco is not a place where they can live comfortably, safely, and authentically. They do not...

What kind of relationship Aziz and Lahcen have?

Aziz and Lahcen had been good friends for more than twenty years. Their relationship was comfortable.... they could say anything to each other, even the things that they knew the other wouldn't want to hear.

What did Laila Lalami say about the immigrant in her novel?

From the text we can infer that Lalamai sees the immigrant as desperate to escape from the lives they lead (for many different reasons) and fille with strength and hope at what they will find beyond the border.

Study Guide for Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits

Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits study guide contains a biography of Laila Lalami, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits
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Essays for Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits

Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami.

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Local Groove Does Good: The Story Of Trip-Hop's Rise From Bristol

Vivien Goldman

The Wild Bunch — soon-to-be Massive Attack — at the Dug Out Club in Bristol. Photo by Beezer hide caption

The Wild Bunch — soon-to-be Massive Attack — at the Dug Out Club in Bristol.

Sinuous and mysterious as a plume of drifting smoke, a new sort of groove wafted two decades ago from Bristol, a bohemian university town in the west of England. Though its prime movers — Massive Attack , Tricky and Portishead — all loathe the term, the word "trip-hop" has become synonymous with the style created by Bristol bands like Massive Attack and Smith & Mighty. The sensuous groove fulfilled a timeless human need for a bass-heavy sound to touch the secret recesses of the imagination and lure our dreamworld onto the dance floor. Trip-hop was tailor-made for the moment — and it happens every night — when a bopper wants to get tender. Or when domestic listeners seek to wander within themselves.

Not all local grooves take flight, but trip-hop most certainly did. Over the next two decades it was re-imagined as chill-out, downtempo, illbient and lounge music. Its subtle tendrils have woven into music round the world: Washington, D.C.'s Thievery Corporation , with their exotic cosmopolitan edge; drifty Brazilian sounds like Ceu , whose dulcet lilt earned her maximum market penetration (a Starbucks CD); London's Ninja Tunes' artists like Bonobo and Berlin's techno-tinged Sonar Kollektiv. As music writer Simon Reynolds notes, "People like Flying Lotus and Gonjasufi on the West Coast are doing trippy hip-hop. Though it's not quite the same thing, they probably are the inheritors of the spirit of Massive Attack, Tricky, Earthling and DJ Vadim."

To qualify as true trip-hop, music has to share the sense of opiated mystery of Tricky's tantalizing mumbles on the classic album, 20 years old last year, that launched trip-hop worldwide, Massive Attack's Blue Lines. Its magical " Unfinished Sympathy ," cast a spell over the world's clubbers. Produced by Nellee Hooper (later of Soul II Soul and Bjork , among many others) the well-timed sound was just one manifestation of a movement taking place in Bristol at that time.

Scene initiators included Smith & Mighty and the DJ collective The Wild Bunch, from which came Massive Attack and Tricky. The Pop Group's volatile post-punk added another element to the scene, later splitting into the savage free explorations of Float Up C.P. and horn-happy Pigbag.

Bristol fed off its slave port for hundreds of years; now it's one of Britain's blackest cities, culturally and socially. It's long been home to a West Indian community, and shebeens and sound systems were a way of life for all music-loving Bristolian youth. Being a port, Bristol was always awash in hashish and other plant-based mind-benders like marijuana — not to mention more macrobiotically sound, locally-grown life-enhancers like scrumpy cider and hallucinogenic mushrooms (legal back then) grown in the surrounding countryside — that undoubtedly fuelled Bristol's music scene.

Much of this musical experimentation took place at a club called The Dug Out. As Hooper has said, "The Dug Out couldn't have had a better location, at the top of the hill from St Paul's — the heart of the black music scene — and just down the hill from Clifton and the trendy punk/art scene. It was just dangerous enough for trendies to feel edgy, music cool and edgy enough to confuse and enthuse the dreads ... perfect!"

Disclosure: I got a chance to explore Massive Attack's creative process first hand over a few years. What follows is a typically incestous Bristolian saga. The links between town and gown — the students and the locals — plus the charming city's many liberal artsy types, made for a scene with a hectic social, creative and romantic dynamic.

Blue Lines was born in an upstairs bedroom of the terraced West London home of Afro-Swedish hip-hop diva Neneh Cherry and her producer husband, singer Cameron McVey. Before her solo hits began with " Buffalo Stance ," Neneh sang with Float Up C.P., and as her first husband was Bruce Smith (drummer for the Pop Group and The Slits, with whom Neneh also sang), Bristol was yet another home to her. The young Massive Attackers, Daddy G, 3-D, Mushroom and Tricky, became Cherry and McVey's protegés. They took over the small side bedroom, soon cluttered with reel-to-reels and tape machines, and a record deck on which they would earnestly sift through possible samples. A superb chef, my friend Neneh would be in the kitchen concocting feasts in between writing rhymes, with Massive Attack wandering in for cups of tea.

Years later, after the band had released Blue Lines and were preparing the album that became Protection , I visited Bristol to collaborate with them, eventually co-writing the track " Sly ." Sample-based songwriting in those pre-digital days could be laborious. I bought a child's Casio keyboard to help fill the gaps, which came in handy for "Sly," but the process often involved someone getting on their bike and cycling down to the second-hand record shop to try and locate half-remembered grooves that might be just right to fulfill the elusive conception of a song.

Bring back the bike, because the tunes the Massives assembled by hand, between cups of tea, opened a poetic, evocative, emotional vein of music, which is still connecting hearts today.

10 Key Trip-Hop Tracks

Neneh cherry on "lately" by massive attack.

From 'Blue Lines'

By Massive Attack

Sonically, it's the ultimate trip-hop track, really beautiful. When they were working on it in our house in Mortimer Road, West London, I remember lying in bed hearing it floating round the house and the feeling of being a silent witness to something really great happening. It would send me off into a beautiful dream space sleep. What I love about trip-hop is the bottom end, the sexiness of the downbeat which also gives it a blues-y sort of melancholy. It's the English interpretation of hip-hop, bringing the bass and bottom end from reggae into it. Why Bristol? All the people I know from there are hardcore individuals. It breeds some eccentric thinkers.

Singer-songwriter NENEH CHERRY is an anchor of the Bristol scene. She sang with The Slits, Float Up C.P. and is now with the band CirKus. She is working on two new albums.

Ray Mighty on "Anyone" by Smith & Mighty

From 'DJ-Kicks'

By Smith & Mighty

To hell with false modesty!

RAY MIGHTY is half of the production duo Smith & Mighty.

Rob Smith on "King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown" by Augustus Pablo

From 'King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown'

By Augustus Pablo/King Tubby

To be very honest, we all hated the term 'trip-hop'! The phrase was coined, I believe, by a non-Bristolian journalist, Dom Phillips, who in my mind was very underqualified to be making any opinions about the scene at that time. I remember we played with Tricky at Hammersmith. During Tricky's set, he shouted, "Who likes trip-hop?" A few people in the audience shouted, "Yaee!" and he replied, "Well f--- off home then!"

Bristol artists were not afraid to mix and blend styles, thus coming up with fresh sounding tunes. Also Bristol is far enough away from London that there wasn't the same need to compete or chase trends. Bristol had its own pace and tunes were often left to stew longer.

ROB SMITH is half of the production duo Smith & Mighty.

Mark Stewart on "Aftermath" by Tricky

From 'Aftermath EP'

His first single. I made it with him and Martina Topley-Bird. We were desperate for a girl singer. 8 o'clock in the morning, stopped at some traffic lights on the way to the studio. Two school girls in their uniform at a bus stop — me and Tricky shouted across saying, "Can either of you sing?" Martina said yes, and two stars were born: Tricky and her.

The Wild Bunch (as well as 3D, Daddy G, DJ Milo, Willie Wee and Tricky Kid) — my boys. They call me The Godfather, but in fact some of them are older than me, I just started making music when I was 16.

Big up the mad skillz of generation next Bristol bass of Appleblim, Kahn and Joker dropping science — the new kids from Bristol.

MARK STEWART is the singer for The Pop Group and Mark & the Mafia. His new album, The Politics of Envy , will be released in March and includes collaborations with Primal Scream and others.

Bruce Smith on "Glory Box" by Portishead

From 'Mysterious Heads'

By Portishead

"Glory Box" is a GREAT record, very sexy. I associate that track with sex. And Tricky's first album is very good, very creative. I think the genre is interesting as it is a particularly English take on a North American cultural phenomenon. In Bristol the West Indian influence is huge, so the interpretation of hip-hop — an aggressive music — was made from that perspective, with the influence of dub being the key element.

I spent my late teens absorbed by reggae in Bristol. Had an enormous effect on me and still does in the way I play the drums to this day.

BRUCE SMITH is the drummer for The Slits, The Pop Group and Public Image Limited.

Dick O'Dell on "Karmacoma" by Massive Attack

From 'Protection'

Trip-hop happened in Bristol because of the strong West Indian community from slave trade times combined with middle class white boyz getting seriously spliffed up in the Dug Out!

DICK O'DELL was the manager of The Pop Group and now manages Bat for Lashes.

Cameron McVey on "Any Love" by Massive Attack

From 'Singles 90/98'

It was the very first Massive Attack 45, before me and Neneh started working with them. Smith & Mighty produced it, who I was trying to work with at the time, with Chris Parry, the manager of The Cure. I love Portishead too, and I'd also like to pick Horace Andy's "One Love," with Massive Attack .

Trip-hop was born in Bristol because a lot of 6' 5" Masai warriors must have jumped ship during the slave trade! That's why Bristol has street names like Black Boy Hill and White Lady Road. Bristol is where reggae mixed with hip-hop. It's mad. It's so profound.

CAMERON MCVEY is a singer, songwriter and producer for Neneh Cherry, CirKus and more.

Beezer on "Small World" by Smith & Mighty

From 'Big World, Small World'

The Dug Out was a meeting spot for the ghetto and Poshville where black and white would hang out. We were there almost every night, playing disco, funk and punk. It was our Studio 54, and it put Bristol on the map. We were totally into dub and reggae; it was an amalgamation of cultures with no barriers.

We didn't know we were part of something that would be influential later, but even at the time it felt like something special was going on, although it was still just, like, going out on a regular Wednesday night.

BEEZER is a photographer who chronicled trip-hop in the mid-'90s.

Tessa Pollitt on "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack

I choose everything dear ol' Tricky has put out. The Slits were often in Bristol and I have always loved and respected the "Brizzle" scene. So much innovative music and talent has come from there and has influenced following generations musically.

Let's face it, reggae from Jamaica has influenced us all in the U.K. from old steppers to jungle, drum and bass, dubstep, trip-hop, grime etc. The original rapper was U Roy, [J.A].

But Bristol has something special about it. Must be the Ley Lines (lines of energy running beneath the earth) and the huge hills you have to climb like in San Francisco. And probably the amount of Jamaicans that came here way back in the windrush era, 1950s.

TESSA POLLITT is bass player for The Slits.

Martina Topley-Bird on "Aftermath" by Tricky

From 'Maxinquaye'

It's the only Tricky song I recognize as a trip-hop song (still hard to write those words even now), and it was our first single. Mark Stewart was there. I'd just turned 16. Recorded in a squat studio in Bristol.

I arrived in Bristol when I was 13. I like that Bristol is really mixed racially, more so than anywhere else in England, even London, for me at the time. It was smaller and there were no great swathes of land for people to be segregated to.

I think how it's laid out as a city has its own effect on the psyche of its dwellers — and the weather. Back then it was England before shops were open on Sundays. Some parts were melancholy, and some parts were bleak. But the suspension bridge was beautiful and the gorge. It has history as a slaving port too.

It was the generation before me that started making this music though. I heard more than I saw with my own eyes about Blues dances and Sound Systems.

MARTINA TOPLEY-BIRD is a vocalist with Tricky and Massive Attack. She's working on new material now.

• Massive Attack
• Augustus Pablo

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Steve is asked to review restaurants for the UK's Observer who is joined on a working road trip by his friend Rob who fills in at the last minute when Coogan's romantic relationship falls ap... Read all Steve is asked to review restaurants for the UK's Observer who is joined on a working road trip by his friend Rob who fills in at the last minute when Coogan's romantic relationship falls apart. Steve is asked to review restaurants for the UK's Observer who is joined on a working road trip by his friend Rob who fills in at the last minute when Coogan's romantic relationship falls apart.

• Steve Coogan
• Claire Keelan
• 18 User reviews
• 9 Critic reviews
• 82 Metascore
• 2 wins & 7 nominations total

Episodes 24

• Receptionist

• Steve's Father

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Steve Coogan states in his autobiography that he and Rob Brydon both initially disliked the pitch for the series, but went along with it anyway due to their friendship with Michael Winterbottom .
• Alternate versions A 90-minute feature version was shown at film festivals a few months before the screening of the TV series.
• Connections Edited into The Trip (2010)

User reviews 18

• Mar 14, 2021
• November 1, 2010 (United Kingdom)
• United Kingdom
• The Trip to Italy
• Revolution Films
• Baby Cow Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 52 minutes

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Everything You Need To Know About Shaky Knees Festival 2024

O nce again, thousands will gather for music, art, food and more. Here is the ultimate guide to becoming a pro at Atlanta's Shaky Knees festival, a rock lover's dream oasis.

The annual Shaky Knees music festival is going to shake up Atlanta May 3rd through 5th, bringing a stacked and diverse lineup for every genre under the sun. Located in Central Park, in Old Fourth Ward, they have the information you need and more from the festival map to an extremely detailed schedule. From the moment doors open at 11:30 am on Friday and close at 11, sticking to the same schedule for all three days except Sunday, has a curfew of 10 pm. Not to mention, they have lockers you can rent! When it comes to the vendors, they offer all types of gluten, vegan and vegetarian options. Don't forget to check out their site for hotel bookings and late-night shows.

When it comes to any sort of festival these days, those at the top want to make sure everything goes smoothly and, more importantly, safely. Upon arriving at Shaky Knees, your bag will be checked and have to be clear if they are larger than 6" by 9." If the bag is smaller, it can only have one pocket. We get how important your bag is, but trust us, you are going to be too entertained to even think to dig around in it. Also, it's May in Atlanta, so hydration packs are allowed, but they have to be emptied before entering.

Kicking off the first weekend of May, and also the month we finally get a glimmer of summer, Song for Kids, an organization dedicated to providing music mentorship and interactive programs for disadvantaged children, will commence the festival with upcoming and well-known artists like Young the Giant sprinkled throughout the day. If you haven't pondered Vermont in winter or your friends coming home at Christmas, then you might not be privy to the phenom that is Noah Kahan , a headliner for the first day. Continuing into Saturday and Sunday, you will hear from the likes of the Foo Fighters and Weezer, among other amazing artists. When the gates close, you can opt for a late-night show with several performances by Dexter and The Moonrocks and more.

Getting There

If you are based in the Atlanta metro area, then you most likely know how to plan for traffic. There is a reason they tell you to get to the airport three hours early (or more). As mentioned before, they have all the resources online to help you if you need to crash in the city. You will find the entrance on the corner of Pine St. and Piedmont Ave. that will lead you right to the box office and the excitement of the day with multiple rideshare drop-offs and handicap-accessible stage viewing spaces. If you live near the festival, they have bike parking as well! And yes, there is a festival map to get you to the acts you paid for.

Where To Eat

Everybody knows the only part about a festival you go for, besides the music, are the vendors. As mentioned before, they have all the allergy options. From Hattie B's Hot Chicken and Arden's Garden to Gu's Dumplings and Wookiedogs , this festival has everything under the sun. Beyond the music, beverage vendors will be accessible throughout. Not to mention, if you return your cup and utilize the recycling system, you are put in the running for VIP ticket upgrades, festival cash and more!

What To Expect

F.U.N. Atlanta is bringing in the top artists of the moment to our southern city. For years, they have ensured a smooth sailing experience, so you don't have to come prepared with anything. Except maybe lyrics and sunscreen! From your favorite indie rock, folk, country and alternative bands, there is a variety of flavors in the lineup. When you not rocking out to your favorite band, you can venture over to the multitude of activations they have. From fan interactions, brand booths and photops, you can fully immerse yourself in the Shaky Knees experience. So, once you have dissected the festival map and checked the weather, you are in for three days of music festival bliss.

Read here for more concerts happening in Atlanta in the next couple of months.

Photography by: Unsplash