Reminiscent of comedies such as “Borat,” the recent Netflix release “Bad Trip” derives its humor from the depiction of fictional characters’ interactions with real-life individuals. Despite possessing a paper-thin plot, the film more than makes up for this through its abundance of laughs, which bank on the shock value of star Eric André’s (“The Lion King”) comedic style. Although the surreal, graphic nature of the pranks and actions shown throughout the film may be too much for some viewers to behold, those willing to stomach them are bound to have a good time watching it.
Utilizing hidden cameras, “Bad Trip” features André alongside Lil Rel Howery (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) and Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), as fictional characters who embark on a cross-country road trip. Along the way, the actors perform in hilariously bizarre scenarios and pranks that are made even funnier due to the reactions of real-life spectators who were present during shooting. Though these moments may appear to be unrelated, they each tie into the collective narrative of the film.
Having shown in past works that he is willing to do almost anything for the sake of comedy, it comes as no surprise that André’s antics shown throughout were often surreal and shocking to watch. However, seeing as Howery and Haddish have only starred in conventional comedies, it is a delightful change in pace to see the two performers exploring their craft in a different format. Though they may not go quite as far as André in terms of the shock value of their pranks, the scenes featuring them are still hilarious and fitting with the overall atmosphere of the film.
Though practical jokes are shown to be its primary brand of humor, “Bad Trip” also takes the opportunity to make itself stand apart from similar hidden-camera comedies that have done the same. More specifically, the film often finds ways to parody certain genres, films and tropes that have often been left unexplored in other comedies of its nature. By deciding to incorporate these spoofs into the pranks and scenarios depicted, the film makes itself stand out due to how it deviates from its genre’s typical conventions.
Despite being filled to the rim with laughs, the film is lacking in terms of story. Although its humorous scenes are meant to be a part of the story, their presentation and content makes it so that they could each stand on their own in another format such as a sketch comedy series. As such, the actual plot of the film feels to be pointless, as its presence is not needed in order to justify the existence of comedic moments which occur, something seen in similar films like “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.“
For a Netflix film, “Bad Trip” proves to be an overall enjoyable and creative film to watch. Bolstered by a strong trio of comedians, the film poses its own level of genius due to their seemingly undaunted natures when it comes to eliciting laughs from the audience. Although it may not be the most intelligent comedy, it still proves to be a worthwhile experience, so long as one is willing to handle its shocking moments.
Image from Netflix via YouTube
