CEMETERY JUNCTION (2010)

Ricky Gervais is on a roll and has been for a long time. Ever since The Office emerged, breaking records, winning awards, shipping abroad, he has maintained that level of success. Extras was a hit here and over the Pond, he has had sell-out stand-up World tours, he has topped podcast charts since their inception and has comfortably made the transition to Hollywood with the charming Ghost Town and then the enjoyable and interesting The Invention of Lying (his first foray into directing a Hollywood picture). The only blips are his appearances in the Night at the Museum films, although I suspect his pay cheques for his 3 minutes of screen time mean that he has the last laugh.

I am of the opinion though that Gervais' best work is done alongside his long term writing partner Stephen Merchant. Cemetery Junction is the first big screen collaboration between the two and was released into the cinema earlier this year with very little fan fare and despite faring out at the box office, barely caused a ripple. At the time, I couldn't find anyone who had seen it, I struggled to find anyone who was desperate to see it. Critics and reviews gave it a luke warm reception. It seemed to pass everyone by in a epidemic of indifference.

I think the reality is that the film was not what anyone expected.



Set in 1973, in a sleepy suburban town (Reading is alluded to and is where Gervais grew up), it is the story of three young men and their aspirations and dreams and whether they can realise them. Freddie (Christian Cooke) dreams of working his way up the ladder at an insurance company and fall in love with his child hood sweetheart, Bruce (a James Dean type played by Tom Hughes) is either talking of leaving the town of getting into fights and in trouble with the police. The third, Snork is the loser of the group, an announcer at the local train station, barely harbouring any ambitions other than 'having a nose for muff'.

The formula of the plot has been seen before and never really throws up any surprises. Its the characters themselves that are very much at the centre of the piece.

The three central characters are all very different and are at a stage in their lives when they may be growing apart but you really get a sense that they are genuinely the best of friends and have come through think and thin together and would do anything for one another (particular Bruce's almost paternal relationship with Snork). The friends are also the basis for much of the comedy in the film, juvenile banter and larking around that is similar to the humour in the Gervais/Merchant sitcoms and fits perfectly in this context. The other comedy is generated is in the relationship between Gervais (Freddie's father) and his mother.

However, to call this film a comedy would be inaccurate and unjust to the other elements of the film. For all the fantastic humour in The Office and Extras, some of the most heartbreaking and emotional moments I've ever seen were in those programmes: Tim's pursuit of Dawn; the moment they finally get together at the end of the Christmas special; Brent pleading not to be made redundant, Any Millman's outburst on Celebrity Big Brother. All incredibly moving moments that are very subtle and underplayed. The two writers continue this throughout Cemetery Junction. Wonderfully understated exchanges between Gervais and his screen son really tug at the heart strings. There is another teary moment when Ralph Fiennes (horrible boss of the insurance company) gives a speech in praise of a long-serving member of staff about to retire.



The only writing that grated with me was the dialogue exchanges between Freddie and the love interest, which came across as very smug. No-one actually talks like this, it reminded me of the way the teenagers spoke to each other in Dawsons Creek, ie annoying.

Another surprise is the look of the film. The standard appearance of a British film set in this period in factories and working class homes is a dour grainy colour. Not here, it revels in the English countryside with splashes of colour throughout. Gervais and Merchant themselves describe it as a 'love letter to England'.

I loved this film and would encourage anyone to see it. Go in with an open mind and without expectations because it's not like anything the writers have done before and if you let yourself get involved in the characters it will be a wonderful 90 minute journey full of laughs, tears, smiles and then more laughs and tears. With a brilliant soundtrack.