The Trip

Check it out, it's really funny, he said. And although it's not a comedy the way I normally think of them, he was right. The comic aspect here, among other things, works brilliantly. The characters are likable and lukewarm at the same time, making for a rather unique spectacle that you definitely don't want to walk away from. (12/14/2021)

An excellent film that will have you laughing out loud, unless you’re a sensitive person in which case it’ll make you sick to your stomach. The Norwegian filmmakers went all out and punched up what could have been a run-of-the-mill home invasion so well that it would make even Quentin Tarantino proud. But he probably would have wished there were two hours more of talking:-) It was a very violent film, parts of human anatomy were cruelly cut, stabbed, shot, chopped, torn, and shattered, lying around in both a solid and a semi-liquid state, and yet there was still room for a considerable amount of quality (mostly black) humor. If Noomi Rapace's character hadn’t exhibited T-1000 resistance, I would have given the movie five stars. But it still deserves a strong four. 4*+ (01/13/2022)

Tommy Wirkola handles marital crises differently than Woody Allen. He’s just as entertaining and creative, but a whole lot different. Which reminded me of why I so much enjoy well-made movies by skilled filmmakers who enjoy doing their work and mean well by us viewers. The Trip is a Norwegian version of American genre flicks where everything gets unexpectedly complicated and the blood flows. This film is very darkly humorous and serious, grotesquely brutal with heart. The subject matter is not entirely original, but the characters and their sweaters are. Despite its initial simplicity, the film turns out to be beautifully edited and increasingly suspenseful precisely as the satisfied viewer demands. The cast is outstanding! (10/29/2021)

A cynical comedy, subversive and bloody, thanks to Wirkola. After years of marriage, a married couple can’t stand being together after all these years and so each of them invites the other to their country cottage with the aim of killing them. Rapace is splendidly two-faced and Hennie’s transformation over the course of the second half is worthy of praise. The occasional explanatory asides that this movie is peppered with don’t seem to be cheap helpers, but carry a large portion of typical Norwegian humor inside them. The ending is a perfect reflection of today’s society. (10/22/2021)

When I saw Tommy Wirkola's name attached as director, I had no doubt this film was going to be a blast. The film is a wild ride about two people who head to a cabin with the intent to kill each other, only to find themselves caught in a series of absurd and unexpected situations that turn into a fight for survival. I had a great time watching it — it gave me serious Shaun of the Dead vibes, which is the gold standard for me when it comes to this kind of film. The only thing missing was a punchier soundtrack. If that had been there, I wouldn’t have hesitated to give it five stars. Still, Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie were absolutely fantastic. (10/22/2021)