Cinema
Ciara Galvin
THE British sitcom ‘The Office’ first hit screens in 2001, an incredible 15 years ago. It’s scary to think about it.
The mockumentary followed the inner workings of a fictitious paper company in Slough and showed the day-to-day office life of its employees.
Its co-writer Ricky Gervais was the show’s star. He played the awkward boss, David Brent, whose sexist remarks and embarrassing efforts to be liked stole the show.
Fifteen years later, and with the success of ‘Extras’ under his belt, along with some mediocre movies, Gervais returns with a feature film, ‘David Brent: Life On The Road’.
Brent hasn’t changed over the years. He’s the same cringe-worthy, self-important character he was. Feeding into his own narcissism, Brent has taken holidays to go on tour with his band ‘Foregone Conclusion’ and imagines that the film crew is following events for a music documentary that will change the world. However, the documentary is centring more on a ‘What ever happened to David Brent?’ theme.
Brent is now working for a cleaning company as a rep, and we get an immediate sense that outside the band, he has no other real ambitions or prospects.
The run of the film follows that of The Office closely—interviews with band members are peppered throughout, and like The Office ‘staff’, the band members aren’t afraid to communicate their disdain for Brent.
What is different, is that unlike the The Office, which had a major office-romance sub plot involving characters Tim and Dawn, this film has no sub plot. The audience is simply left to watch Brent awkwardly trying to win the affection of those around him. The story is uncomfortably zoned in on Gervais’ character, on Brent’s social awkwardness.
To be fair though, Gervais’ particular brand of niche comedy is stamped all over this. Long periods of silence are used to great effect, and the social quirks that make Brent who he is are very much present.
Gervais fans will like this more than your average Joe or Josephine Soap. A sure hit with fans will be the much rolled-out joke that sees Brent hiring a tour bus, but driving behind the bus in his own car to give the band ‘creative space’.
Despite the comedian assuring people that this film isn’t just an extended version of the cult series, it really is. Fans of the show, and those who hated it, will cop that straight away.
If marmite was a film, this would be it.
Rating 4 out of 10
Film review: ‘David Brent: Life On The Road’
