The actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon portray two characters called Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, two actors who share equal talents and similar lives, yet the former is vain and unhappy while the latter is happy with his lot in life. Steve has the opportunity to visit the lakes District of England with the companion of his choice and is getting paid to review the restaurants he finds there. To his great disappointment, Steve is turned down by his girlfriend and several people at the top of his list and finally asks Rob to go with him. Rob is genial company but the two compete with each other and Steve almost invariably comes off second-best, to the wounding of his vanity.
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon both put in admirable performances in this film, and their powers of mimicry are uncanny as they take off Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Connolly and Hugh Grant, to name a few. Steve Coogan displays an wonderful ability for noticing filmic cliches and Rob Brydon improvises on these themes with great relish. Two particularly funny improvs arise around "Come, come, Mr Bond" and "To bed, gentlemen, for tomorrow we ride at dawn."
The Lakes District provides stunning visual interludes that break up the necessarily close-up filming of the characters' interaction. What little storyline there is meanders like the journey Steve and Rob make through the English countryside. And for all the hilarity and giggles provided along the way, the film is tastefully tinged with pathos provided by the character of Steve. This is an all-round better-than-good movie and I look forward to seeing it again. And now, to bed, gentlemen ...
Directed by Micheal Winterbottom. Starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon
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