DVDs in Review

Cemetery Junction (Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, 2010)

Title: Cemetery Junction (Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, 2010)

Release date: August 30 2010

Certificate: 12

Format: Blu-ray

RRP: £24.99

Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by Dave Lancaster

‘Cemetery Junction’ gives Ricky Gervais the opportunity to slump back into his new director’s chair and stay out of many of the scenes, much like how ‘Ghost Town’ gave him a break from performing his own writing material. Both films benefit from this distance, after the relative failure of his leading role, writing, producing and directing credits for the misfiring ‘The Invention of Lying’.

More of a drama than you’d think, Gervais’ film charts the coming of age of three working class guys in the early 70s. The title refers to an area of Reading, where the characters seem doomed to remain. Echoes of Peter Yates’ ‘Breaking Away’ resonate through this tale of responsibility, facing the bigger world and ultimately growing up.

Of the three lads, the film centres around Freddie (a promising turn from young Christian Cooke) who is desperate to avoid going into the factory trade that his dad (a surprisingly low key Gervais) is stuck in. Instead he tries his hand at selling life insurance via the coolly strict Mr Kendrick (Ralph Fiennes who seems to swapping his leading man status to a scene scealing supporting actor following great parts in ‘The Hurt Locker’ and ‘In Bruges’).

Freddie’s childhood sweetheart (Felicity Jones) happens to be his new boss’ daughter and also engaged to another employee. Meanwhile, Freddie’s two other mates are going through transitions into manhood of their own, all of which will come to a head over the new few weeks.

There is a lot going on here, but that’s not to say that any of it is particularly original or inspired. The aforementioned ‘Breaking Away’ works better in almost every respect, but Gervais and his ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras’ companion Stephen Merchant have an assured hand, and thankfully resist the urge to go down the painful comedy route that made those series work. A co-starring role for Emily Watson is the film’s saving grace, however.

‘Cemetery Junction’ is clichéd (from its plot lines right down to its predictable 70s soundtrack) but it’s easy-going, inviting and resonant for anyone who has made the hesitant leap from youth to adulthood. It’s a good, but not great, film and a welcome change of gear for Gervais/Merchant who have successfully delivered the kind of nostalgic, intelligent cinema that has been missing from British screens for too long.