Directed by: | Todd Phillips |
Written by: | Todd Philips, Scot Armstrong |
Starring: | Breckin Meyer, Sean William Scott, Amy Smart, Paulo Costanzo |
Released: | August 17, 2000 |
Grade: | B |
There must be something about road trips that I’m missing. They’re a popular subject item in films - most people would be familiar with the term “road trip movie”. I’ve been on many myself but nothing exciting ever seems to happen to me. It must be an American thing.
Road Trip is told through the perspective of university tour guide Barry (Tom Green) and he introduces us to Josh Porter (Meyer). He’s a freshman at a New York college who is trying to conduct a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, Tiffany, in Texas. They talk every day on the phone and send videotapes telling each other just how much they love and miss each other. Awww.
At a mad on-campus party, Josh hooks up with Beth, who’s had her eye on him for some time and in a wild evening, end up sleeping together and videotaping the process. Lo and behold, the tape is accidentally sent to Tiffany and Josh has three days to get to Texas to intercept the tape and save his relationship.
The four guys who take the trip are your typical stereotypes. Josh is the lead and the serious one. E.L. (Scott) is the jock that gets all the laughs and gets them into trouble. Kyle (DJ Quails) is the nerdy kid who discovers a new side of life. Finally there’s Rubin (Costanzo) who’s mysterious and takes a back seat all the way.
Most of the jokes are an attempt to take further the gross-out comedy routine seen recently in American Pie and There’s Something About Mary. There are some really disgusting moments that I’m ashamed to admit I found funny at the time although in hindsight...
Sean William Scott is creating a real niche for himself (following his turn as Stifler in American Pie) and is the standout amongst the four. The funniest moments of the film though were reserved for Tom Green with his outrageous, side-splitting comedic style.
Bound to rake in plenty of bucks and provide spice to conversations, Road Trip has plenty of top moments with more than a dash of filler thrown in. Laughter is always the best medicine and this film is guaranteed hilarity.