The scale of Ricky Gervais's success and how many A-list actors he seems to have clambering over themselves to get into whatever project he is working on never ceases to amaze me, as I'm sure it doesn't him.
The Office was genius. Extras had its moments but quickly became formulaic. And then he started appearing in big Hollywood films - most of which I've managed to avoid.
But Cemetery Junction sees him back on home turf with buddy Stephen Merchant albeit with the sort of actors that wouldn't normally touch what is essentially a rom-com with a barge-pole - last time I saw Ralph Fiennes he was playing Oedipus on stage at the National.
The film is set in a 1970's dead end town where a group of three friends seem to have their lives mapped out for them. For all their talk of escape none seem capable of actually cutting loose and seeing a bit more of the world.
The problem with Cemetery Junction is firstly that it isn't that funny. Yes I did laugh out loud about three times but that was pretty much it. And secondly the 'Rom' is so predictable that you can pretty much write the story from 10 minutes in.
It's all a bit too neat as if Gervais and Merchant have rummaged around in the bag of predictable character arcs and picked three, throw in some typical Gervais/Merchant humour and a 70's back drop and you have Cemetery Junction.
It is a mediocre feel-good movie saved only slightly by the impossible good looks of the two leads Felicity Jones and Christian Cooke. They have the sort of looks that if the two of them were to have children together, at the sight of their offspring angels would sigh.
But enough of the eye candy. It's a film that's worthy of a: "S'OK" accompanied by a half-hearted shrug.
The critics views vary but it feels almost as if no one quite dares to be too critical of probably one of most successful comic talents to make it in the US for some years. Shame really because I think the two of them could have done better:
Here are three of the most recent reviews:
Time Out London 'There are laughs, but this isn’t quite a comedy.'
Total Film 'Good looks, cool characters, great music. Gervais and Merchant’s film is the most confident British debut since Shallow Grave.'
Daily Telegraph 'Gervais and Merchant may offer less ambition or novelty than meet the eye, but being cosily shepherded to their feel-good destination never feels like drudgery.'
No meta critic score as yet
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