THE STORY – Comedy legends Bob Odenkirk and David Cross tackle one of the world’s toughest hikes — and each other — in this high-altitude, coca-fueled meditation on friendship, mortality, and profoundly absurd comedy from two icons still magnificently in sync.
THE CAST – Bob Odenkirk & David Cross
THE TEAM – Michael LaHaie (Director)
THE RUNNING TIME – 80 Minutes
In today’s hyper-connected world, trips where you can digitally disconnect feel especially important for our minds to recover. The same can be said for disconnecting from the pressures of career pursuits. To quote the great Emma Thompson, when asked about future career plans back at the 1996 Berlinale Film Festival press conference for Ang Lee’s “Sense & Sensibility,” she responded in part by saying, “I think it’s time to just look at a tree.” Nature helps put things into perspective, as does the presence of good company. Combine the two sentiments, and you’ve got “Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu,” an endearing trip of two longtime buddies who are delightfully still connected. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross bring their fun banter to one of the world’s most challenging trails, where they can’t help but poignantly reflect on what life means to them. Their unguarded conversations and sense of humor make for an enjoyable time.
Oh, the places you’ll go to spend time with a dear friend. Climbing the beautiful Andean sites to Machu Picchu was on David Cross’s bucket list, and he was determined to see it through, whether Bob Odenkirk agreed to join him or not. When Odenkirk did say yes, the meaning of this trip became twofold. Cross seemingly found motivation from the once-in-a-lifetime experience of it all, between the physical challenge and the overall transporting landscape. For Odenkirk, Machu Picchu seemed to represent a refreshing break from career pursuits, as he describes his frustrations with Hollywood, which made him care about things he otherwise would not. Additionally, his recent heart attack on the set of “Better Call Saul” in 2021 marked a shift in perspective, a fragile reminder that our time on Earth is temporary. At the core, Odenkirk and Cross missed spending time with each other. As we follow these pals from camp sites to peaks and trails, we are given a candid snapshot of entertaining camaraderie.
Director Michael LaHaie, no stranger to working with comedians as he co-directed the 2015 documentary “Knock Knock, It’s Tig Notaro,” focuses on said camaraderie. Humor has a way of disarming people, and that sentiment plays out through a series of jokes that ultimately often land on something poignant. LaHaie’s approach is subtle and pulled back, unconcerned with crafting a heavily stylized experience. It’s a straightforward structure, but it works well to highlight the candid footage at hand. The direction lends to an intimate, easygoing environment where Cross and Odenkirk are playful, though not in performance mode. Close observation of how the two relate to their surroundings also paints a clear picture of a subversive sense of humor that came to define their early days of comedy.
Cross and Odenkirk’s narration adds commentary to the archive footage cherry-picked from “Mr. Show,” a 90s television series where the duo performed sketch comedy. While they got off to a rocky start on a personal level, they eventually found their rhythm and made absurd magic together. It’s a creative relationship that both clearly still hold near and dear. The two also discuss navigating Hollywood post-“Mr. Show.” When Cross landed the role of Tobias Fünke on “Arrested Development,” Odenkirk was puttering around until the career-defining character of Saul Goodman came along in Vince Gilligan’s “Breaking Bad.” Odenkirk lovingly describes “Breaking Bad,” and the subsequent “Better Call Saul,” as winning lottery tickets he didn’t buy. It’s a lovely moment that follows him across the globe, as LaHaie captures just how successful these shows were (and are). In one of the most amusing scenes, Odenkirk and Cross set up a table in the middle of an Andean village and wait for people to recognize them. Everyone who approaches either mentions “Breaking Bad” or “Better Call Saul,” side-stepping Cross entirely. But in a true collaborative nature, Odenkirk takes an opportunity to mention “Mr. Show.” He references a funny New York Times article headline that he claims killed the series: “It’s brilliant. Too bad. Must be past its peak.”
There are plenty of comedic peaks to be found in this documentary. It’s a treat to watch Cross and Odenkirk pitch jokes to each other and indulge in stretching banter to a full-on, sincere conversation, or vice versa. When Odenkirk ponders the history of growing corn in Peru, Cross spots a playful opportunity to misinterpret corn for the rock band, Korn. Odenkirk also has a recurring off-camera bit involving his wireless microphone, which he uses to reference the true-crime documentary “The Jinx,” in which Robert Durst’s confession to multiple murders was captured by a microphone still attached as he used the restroom. The subversive humor might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but at its core, “Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu” is a resonant journey about friendship and the fragility of life. The closer we reach the otherworldly beauty of Machu Picchu itself, the more heartfelt Odenkirk and Cross’s conversations become. In standout discussions centered on fatherhood, both reflect on their upbringings and the newfound purpose they have found in becoming fathers themselves. There’s a similarly moving moment when Odenkirk and Cross each read a letter from their wives, Naomi Odenkirk and Amber Tamblyn, respectively, written specifically for sharing on this trip. It’s endearing to be met with these tender moments so candidly, without them becoming overtly dramatized or maudlin.
The humbling setting of “Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu” gives way to spontaneous conversations and a genuine, unguarded depiction of friendship. There’s a strong sense of respect for the subjects’ relationship history, and it’s precisely what makes the documentary so engaging to watch. LaHaie’s direction excels at getting to the heart of a journey that would’ve happened anyway. The humor’s effectiveness will certainly come down to individual taste, but above all, this is an endlessly charming story of two people preserving their many years of connection. The tour guide, Jose, inadvertently captures this energy perfectly when he recommends that Odenkirk and Cross stop talking. The jokes are great, but they need to save their breath for the tougher trails ahead. Similarly, with this documentary, the quick jokes are entertaining, but it’s the observational portrait of friendship that makes this trip memorable.
