As creeping gentrification sounds the death knell for London's smut-central, Soho, Michael Winterbottom reprises the area's neon-lit, 1960s and 70s heyday with this affectionate portrait of soft-porn lord Paul Raymond. Steve Coogan almost engages our sympathies as the millionaire nightclub owner and pornographer, but it's a superficial film that leans heavily on Raymond's awkward relationship with his daughter Debbie (Imogen Poots).

Review - Brand: A Second Coming

Excess has been a recurring feature in Russell Brand's life. Yet so soon after Michael Winterbottom's The Emperor's New Clothes, is the world crying out for another documentary about the comedian-turned-political activist?

Russell Brand in Michael Winterbottom economics film

Comic Russell Brand is working with British director Michael Winterbottom on a documentary about the global economic crash.

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon Q&A report

The Q&A, screened live to over 180 cinemas across the UK, saw the pair talk about their Mediterranean jaunt, re-uniting with Michael Winterbottom, their relationship on and off set, growing old gracefully and more.

For all its obvious charms, the first run of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's improvised sitcom did sometimes seem like little more than a Parmesan-crisp thin excuse for its stars to gorge on high-end scran. Credit all the Mediterranean cuisine being scarfed down or just tighter direction from Michael Winterbottom, but this sequel outing to Italy feels more substantial. Tonight's episode features a plot, with the pair venturing to Shelley's house by boat, and Brydon chirpsing one of the crew. Impressions galore - Tom Jones, Pierce Brosnan - too.

What I like about The Trip is that it works on so many levels, whether it be two men trying to deal with the ageing process or just a couple of funny chaps trying to one up each other with their impressions. Indeed it is the impressions scenes that people will remember with the first episode's take on The Dark Knight Rises, and in particular Bane, being a personal highlight. But I was equally involved in the discussions regarding Brydon and Coogan's personal life and the fact that the latter doesn't get the attention from pretty girls in the way he once did.

While the first series built up to a very fine performance of The Winner Takes it All this series looks to see the comic duo tackle the work of Alanis Morissette at some point. Long-time friends Coogan and Brydon bounce off each other perfectly in the lead roles as they play exaggerated versions of themselves.

As I did with the first series, I wonder how much of their real characteristics they bring to their roles in The Trip. Director Michael Winterbottom makes the whole series a cut above a regular sitcom with the cinematography really capturing all that the Italian scenery has to offer. Whether the story can be stretched over another six episodes remains to be seen but, for now at least, The Trip to Italy looks to be as funny and poignant as its predecessor was.

Following semi-improvised gem The Trip, where Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon played versions of themselves in northern eateries, Michael Winterbottom returns to direct this follow-up, set in rooms containing Italian restaurant-goers. Expect more impersonations, including a superb riff on Tom Hardy's Batman villain Bane stealing Brydon's voiceover work.

Even though the original Trip was basically just Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon being Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, performing endless impressions over gourmet meals you couldn't possibly afford, there was a prickly knowingness to it that made it a bit of a dry comedy gem. So we're thrilled that the veteran comedians have once again teamed up with Michael Winterbottom for another restaurant crawl, this time over in sunkissed Italy. With the vino flowing, we anticipate exchanges that are more scathing and impersonations that are more exuberant to be showcased in The Trip to Italy.