Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip 2 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip 2

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2014

52%

WISE Score

IMDb

Hammond and co. drive expensive cars through scenic locations while making scripted jokes—it's Top Gear, but the magic's wearing thin.

8/10

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Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip 2

movie

PG-13, 2014

52%

WISE Score

IMDb

Hammond and co. drive expensive cars through scenic locations while making scripted jokes—it's Top Gear, but the magic's wearing thin.

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Screenwise Verdict

This is Top Gear in its later phase—still watchable if you love cars and British banter, but the formula is wearing thin. The scripted nature is obvious (even a 2015 review called it out), and the 'perfect road trip' gimmick doesn't deliver anything groundbreaking.

For teens who are gearheads, it's harmless fun with mild innuendo and some genuine automotive appreciation. But if your kid isn't already into Top Gear or cars, this 2014 special won't convert them. It's comfort food for fans, not appointment viewing.

The WISE score reflects its narrow appeal and dated execution—it's fine, but there are better ways to spend 90 minutes unless you're really into Hammonds and horsepower.

Age Fit

Best for car-loving teens 13+ who are already fans of Top Gear's format. Younger kids will be bored by the pacing and miss the innuendo; older teens and adults might find the scripted humor tired. This is niche content for automotive enthusiasts.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic Top Gear banter between Hammond and presumably one other host—mostly good-natured ribbing and automotive enthusiasm. The BBFC notes mild sex references and innuendo, which is typical for the franchise but keeps it from being squeaky clean. The tone is generally upbeat and cooperative as they tackle challenges together, though the humor can veer into mild mockery. No mean-spirited content, but the innuendo and scripted drama keep it from being fully wholesome.

Imaginative

It's a car documentary with stunts and challenges, which shows some creativity in execution, but the format is well-worn Top Gear territory by 2014. The 'perfect road trip' concept invites viewers to think about travel and adventure, and the literal car race finale has novelty. However, reviews note the humor feels 'clearly scripted and not believable,' which undercuts the spontaneity and genuine exploration that would make it more imaginative. It's more about watching pre-planned automotive entertainment than inspiring creativity or original thinking.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, and BBFC mentions mild sex references, innuendo, and undetailed archival footage of real motor crashes. For a teen audience, this is fairly tame—no graphic violence, gore, or explicit content. The crash footage is archival and undetailed, so it's not shocking. The innuendo is mild and typical of British automotive programming. Safe for the target age range, though younger kids might catch references they shouldn't. No major trigger warnings or surprise disturbing content.

Enriching

There's genuine automotive knowledge and appreciation for engineering, geography, and travel embedded in Top Gear content. Viewers learn about different cars, driving conditions, and locations. However, the 2014 special is more about entertainment than education—the scripted humor and stunts prioritize laughs over learning. IMDb 7.8 and Letterboxd 3.6 suggest it's enjoyable but not particularly memorable or meaningful. It's car candy, not a documentary that changes how you think.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuine car enthusiasm and automotive knowledge for teens who love vehicles
Scenic road trip locations and driving challenges that showcase different cultures and landscapes
Good-natured banter between hosts models friendship (even if it's scripted)
No graphic content—mild innuendo is the worst of it

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What to Watch For

Mild sexual innuendo and references throughout (typical British humor)
Archival crash footage that's not graphic but shows real accidents
Scripted humor that feels forced—reviews note it's 'not believable at all'
Limited appeal if your kid isn't already into cars or Top Gear

Conversation Starters

"If you could plan the perfect road trip, where would you go and what car would you drive?"
"What do you think makes a car 'good'—speed, comfort, looks, or something else?"
"Do you think the challenges they did were real or staged? How could you tell?"
"Have you ever been on a long road trip? What made it memorable?"

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