STARS: 3/5
When one hears the phrase “gap year,” a 28-year-old comedian traveling with his upper-class 77-year-old father is typically not the first scene that comes to mind. However, this is precisely the plot of Netflix’s comic documentary series “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father” that will leave viewers laughing at its absurdity, even if they may occasionally roll their eyes at Jack’s antics along the way.
The series follows the cheeky comedian and his father, English producer and agent Michael Whitehall, as they embark on a five-week trip throughout Southeast Asia in an attempt at some much-needed father-son bonding.
The show plays on the juxtaposition of Jack’s child-like spontaneity and thirst for adventure with Michael’s love for routine and comfort.
The two have vastly different visions for the trip: Jack wants it to be an authentic gap year filled with cheap hostels and obscure tours while Michael wants to stay in luxury hotels and see historic landmarks. Jack’s goal is to push his father outside his comfort zone.
The dynamic is evident from first episode of the series when the two are eating their first meal in Thailand. Jack orders a Thai dish of the menu while Michael asks for Welsh lamb instead. Then, Jack brings Michael to a hostel which immediately results in Michael checking them into the nearest resort.
Jack is constantly trying to push Michael’s buttons, making jokes throughout the series about his father sending him to boarding school when he was 8 years old.
While “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father” mainly focuses on the father-son dynamic, some of the sights the Whitehalls see during their trip are nothing short of breathtaking. In the third episode, the two ride a boat to the island of Ko Tapu, surrounded by bright blue waters and ardent island greenery in the background.
The best part of the series is when the two meet actor and martial artist Steven Seagal outside their hotel in Thailand. Jack introduces himself first and calls out to his father, “Daddy!” to which Seagal replies, “You still call him daddy?”
The show has a quintessentially British style of humor, featuring awkward silences and the occasional crude comment, usually from Michael.
While the two are not outwardly affectionate, the series does feature a few heartwarming moments between Jack and Michael. As Jack plays soccer with locals on a floating pitch in Ko Panyi, Michael coaches from the sidelines. They win the match, and the camera cuts to Jack saying this was genuinely one of his favorite moments of the trip.
With its unique, comical approach to travel documentaries, “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father” will keep viewers entertained and yearning to do some traveling of their own.