The iconic character David Brent, last seen 15 years ago in the BBC series The Office, has returned in the year’s anticipated – and highly awkward – film David Brent: Life on the Road, which is released in cinemas today.
The film sees star, writer and producer Ricky Gervais return as the character who kickstarted his career, though fans of the original series will be quick to point out that no other members of the original cast appear in the big screen adventure. This time, we follow the painfully awkward, politically incorrect, yet extremely loveable former office sales representative as a television crew highlights his struggles chasing the dream of having his new band – Foregone Conclusion – being signed by a record label.
Touring the country with his (much younger) band around the British countryside, the film is wonderfully humorous at times, while providing moments of seriousness for Gervais’ character. Brent becomes the epitome of a father attempting to relive his 20’s, amplified by an desire to be accepted by the Millennials of today.
Die-hard fans of The Office may be disappointed at David Brent, due to the fact it does not feature any of the original cast members aside from Gervais, and Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies) didn’t work on its script. Although The Office may be a cult classic, without these inclusions, David Brent flounders to recreate the magic of the original series.
That said, there’s plenty of good things to say about the film. A stand-out character has to be Doc Brown, who plays Dom, one of the band members in “Foregone Conclusion”. His sassy personality and father-son relationship with Brent’s character allows the audience to see a more personal side of the characters. Love Actually’s Nina Sosanya also makes an appearance as the passive aggressive therapist of Brent, delivering further highlights.
Another notable aspect of this film is its soundtrack, written by Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin, along with Andy Burrows, which delivers the soon-to-be classics including “Please Don’t Make Fun of the Disableds” and “Native American”. Foregone Conclusion play these tracks – and more – on their very, very small tour around Reading, pushing the envelope of political correctness in true Ricky Gervais style.
David Brent: Life on the Road is a mockumentary about a man in the midst of a mid-life crisis, trying to relive the fame he once had. Though it may be a film that will divide opinion due to some differences in humour from the original Office, it remains extremely lighthearted at its core; a small spark following the legacy of the original series. As David would say, “You know ‘Live fast, die young’? Not my way. Live fast, sure. But die young? Die old.”
Review Score: THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
David Brent: Life on the Road is in cinemas today.
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