Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
The aim: to select the ideal mode of transport for each leg of a pilgrimage from Venice, Italy to Pau in France – home to a legendary street circuit and the origins of Grand Prix racing. On the way we prepare by taking to the track at Monza – the home of Italian Formula One. We try to get noticed on the road course in Monaco in a Bugatti, a Lamborghini and a Model T Ford. After cruising the canals in Venice we take to the tarmac and things look good - thanks to the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and Mercedes SLS Black. Throw in a Pagani Huayra, Porsche Cayman S and a GT3 as well as the Aston Martin Vanquish centenary edition, Bentley V8 convertible, Rolls Royce Phantom coupe and the face-bending BAC Mono all seems pretty perfect to us.
Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip is a competent extension of the TV series format into a feature-length special, following Clarkson, Hammond, and May on a picturesque drive from Venice to Pau. The 'plot' is essentially a loose travelogue framing device for car reviews and presenter banter — functional but thin. The trio's chemistry and comedic interplay remain the main draw, elevating the acting/presenting above average. Cinematography captures some genuinely beautiful European landscapes and glamorous supercar footage, though it doesn't push beyond the show's established visual style. Novelty is low — this is a well-worn Top Gear formula applied to another road trip, offering little that fans haven't seen before in the show's many specials. The ending wraps up neatly but without particular drama or payoff.