EuroTrip (2004)

Also known as "The Ugly Americans, Eurotrip Unseen (DVD Special Edition)"
Overall Score: 7 out of 10

No actual Europeans were harmed in the making of this film.

Starring: Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Travis Wester, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jessica Boehrs, Kristin Kreuk, Vinnie Jones, Lucy Lawless, Petr Jakl, J.P. Manoux, Patrick Rapold, Fred Armisen, Jana Pallaske, Diedrich Bader, Dominic Raacke, Rade Serbedzija, Steve Hytner, Mindy Sterling, Jeffrey Tambor, Jakki Degg,Matt Damon

Director: Jeff Schaffer

Running Time: 90 minutes

US MPAA rating: R
UK BBFC rating: 15
Adventure, Comedy

On DVD

On DVD

'Eurotrip' comes to us from the producers of 'Road Trip' and a clutch of the writers from 'Seinfeld' - but it shares far more in common with the former than the latter. It's loud, it's obnoxious, and more often than not it's cringe-worthy in its all-out ignorance of European cultures and lifestyles. But, much more importantly than any of that, it also works surprisingly well, and for this reviewer's money is actually funnier than many of the countless teen gross-out comedies it takes its lead from.

In an opening premise unashamedly similar to that of the afore-mentioned (and inferior) 'Road Trip', it stars Scott Mechlowicz as Scott, a High School graduate forced into an impromptu journey to set things straight with a lady. Accompanied by best buddy Cooper (Jacob Pitts) and brother-sister combo Jenny and Jamie (Michelle Trachtenberg and Travis Wester), he heads for Germany to tell pen-pal Mieke (Jessica Boehrs) that - now that he knows she's a babe, rather than a bloke - he thinks she's "the one". It's a ridiculous plot - but hey, it's an excuse to trek across the continent and poke fun at Johnny Foreigner in the process, so what the Hell, eh?

Clichés, stereotypes and downright inaccuracies abound, from Scott's insistence that "England is an island" and has "no drinking age", to the Amsterdam sex dungeon, snooty French waiter and portrayal of Eastern Europe as a depressing, backward-thinking hole. Hell, there's even a German kid who dresses up as Hitler and goose-steps around his living room - surely pushing the boundaries of taste and sensitivity just about as far as is humanly possible - yet, somehow, the bulk of the gags hit the mark.

Of course, the plot is perennially of secondary-importance to the need to squeeze in as many belly-shakers and breast-barers as possible, to the point that when the thing is finally resolved it seems almost as if the screenwriters can't be bothered doing it properly. We don't get to see Scott explaining to the love of his life that he's spent most of the time he's known her thinking she's male, and neither do we get to see Meike's reaction to said explanation. But no matter - just because it's a no-brainer of a movie doesn't mean it fails to achieve it's one and only aim, and that's to make us laugh.

DVD Extras: This "unseen" edition of the flick contains an audio commentary, some out-takes, deleted scenes, an alternate ending and a short behind-the-scenes look at the filming of one particular scene set at a nudey beach. Extras: 0 out of 10

It's Got: A London that's crawling with Manchester United fans - so it's not all inaccurate then.

It Needs: To be watched right through to the end of the credits if you don't want to miss out on some extra funnies.

Alternatives: Road Trip, Just Married, National Lampoon's European Vacation

Summary: This fun teen jaunt might not be worth a trip across the continent and back - but it is worth a trip to your local DVD store. Overall Score: 7 out of 10

Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 21th January 2005