David Brent: Life on the Road
Ricky Gervais reprises his ambitious/oblivious character from BBC's The Office in this feature mockumentary he also wrote and directed. Set 15 years after the events of the TV show, David Brent is now a sales rep and still an aspiring musician. Using his pension and vacation time, Brent goes on tour with his band, Foregone Conclusion.
- Director:
- Ricky Gervais ('Special Correspondents', 'The Invention of Lying', 'Cemetery Junction'))
- Writer:
- Ricky Gervais
- Cast:
- Ricky GervaisJo HartleyDoc BrownTom BennettAlexander ArnoldMandeep DhillonAbbie MurphyRebecca Gethings
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Matt Glasby
flicksFollowing an excellent start and indifferent middle, the last act proves ruinously sentimental, as Brent’s band-mates inexplicably overcome their antipathy towards him to rally round for an unearned happy ending. It’s as if the movie, as well as the character, is so desperate to be liked it can’t help but scupper itself. Pity, because for 45 minutes there this was looking like the comeback of the year.
Variety
pressRicky Gervais' most enduring creation hits the road for one last attempt at cracking showbiz, in a funny if meandering big-screen adventure.
Total Film
pressBrent's big comeback won't disappoint fans, but would've worked fine as another Christmas special. In 2004.
Time Out
pressIf nothing else, this is a reminder of what a beautifully realised and horribly relatable a character David Brent is. We all know someone a bit like this man.
The Guardian
pressThere were braver things that Gervais could have done with the character. The bravest being leaving him where he was.
Stuff
pressWith four hearty laughs in the first two minutes, [this] starts with promise and goes on to be an immensely satisfying, sometimes uncomfortable, return to form.
Empire Magazine
pressRicky Gervais very much plays the hits in an undercooked but occasionally funny big screen revival that suffers from a crippling case of de ja vu. Brent's last goodbye? You'd hope so.
Flicks, Matt Glasby
flicksFollowing an excellent start and indifferent middle, the last act proves ruinously sentimental, as Brent’s band-mates inexplicably overcome their antipathy towards him to rally round for an unearned happy ending. It’s as if the movie, as well as the character, is so desperate to be liked it can’t help but scupper itself. Pity, because for 45 minutes there this was looking like the comeback of the year.
Variety
pressRicky Gervais' most enduring creation hits the road for one last attempt at cracking showbiz, in a funny if meandering big-screen adventure.
Total Film
pressBrent's big comeback won't disappoint fans, but would've worked fine as another Christmas special. In 2004.
Time Out
pressIf nothing else, this is a reminder of what a beautifully realised and horribly relatable a character David Brent is. We all know someone a bit like this man.
The Guardian
pressThere were braver things that Gervais could have done with the character. The bravest being leaving him where he was.
Stuff
pressWith four hearty laughs in the first two minutes, [this] starts with promise and goes on to be an immensely satisfying, sometimes uncomfortable, return to form.
Empire Magazine
pressRicky Gervais very much plays the hits in an undercooked but occasionally funny big screen revival that suffers from a crippling case of de ja vu. Brent's last goodbye? You'd hope so.
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