"if It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" is a comedy film about an American tourist group traveling to see Europe. And when one says Europe, it means trying to cram as many countries and cities as possible into however many days. In this case, it's nine countries in 18 days. And, it's by bus most of the time, with a short cruise on the Rhine River in Germany and a gondola ride in Venice, Italy.
None of the people knew anyone else, but they all come together to take their dream vacation. Some saved for years for the trip. Some have different stories. One is a veteran returning nearly 15 years after the war and hoping to look up a woman he had met during the war. One guy is a kleptomaniac, or souvenir collector. Another will look up distant relatives in Italy. Suzanne Pleshette plays Samantha Perkins who's on the trip to find out if she really loves the guy back home enough to marry him. And the tour guide is a playboy, Charlie Cartwright, who knows his stuff.
The film could almost serve as a travel docu-drama with a light touch. The comedy is there but ever so lightly. To call it a romance is a stretch. This was probably of interest in the age when Americans dreamed about such travel. It was a type of craze for a couple decades in the mid-20th century. Not that Americans ever stopped touring, but the crammed tour group type of travel gradually phased down to tour groups forming in the states and then going to two or three countries in 10 days to two weeks. Many others began taking in just one country at a time and traveling alone or as couples or families to visit and appreciate one culture a little better - and enjoy it more.
In modern times, specialty tours and cruises are the most fun and best way to travel. I've been to several areas of China on a three-week hiking tour, been to the Orient twice, took pilgrimages to eastern Europe and the Middle East, and cruised the Yangtse River, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and to Alaska. And, I saw and traveled most of Western Europe while serving 2 ½ years in the U.S. Army.
This film has quite a good cast. It has a smattering of humor here and there, but nothing very funny and no exceptional acting. The best thing about it is the occasional good scenery and locales. Those who enjoy travel may enjoy it some. But well into the 21st century now, many more probably won't find it very interesting.
None of the people knew anyone else, but they all come together to take their dream vacation. Some saved for years for the trip. Some have different stories. One is a veteran returning nearly 15 years after the war and hoping to look up a woman he had met during the war. One guy is a kleptomaniac, or souvenir collector. Another will look up distant relatives in Italy. Suzanne Pleshette plays Samantha Perkins who's on the trip to find out if she really loves the guy back home enough to marry him. And the tour guide is a playboy, Charlie Cartwright, who knows his stuff.
The film could almost serve as a travel docu-drama with a light touch. The comedy is there but ever so lightly. To call it a romance is a stretch. This was probably of interest in the age when Americans dreamed about such travel. It was a type of craze for a couple decades in the mid-20th century. Not that Americans ever stopped touring, but the crammed tour group type of travel gradually phased down to tour groups forming in the states and then going to two or three countries in 10 days to two weeks. Many others began taking in just one country at a time and traveling alone or as couples or families to visit and appreciate one culture a little better - and enjoy it more.
In modern times, specialty tours and cruises are the most fun and best way to travel. I've been to several areas of China on a three-week hiking tour, been to the Orient twice, took pilgrimages to eastern Europe and the Middle East, and cruised the Yangtse River, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and to Alaska. And, I saw and traveled most of Western Europe while serving 2 ½ years in the U.S. Army.
This film has quite a good cast. It has a smattering of humor here and there, but nothing very funny and no exceptional acting. The best thing about it is the occasional good scenery and locales. Those who enjoy travel may enjoy it some. But well into the 21st century now, many more probably won't find it very interesting.