journey by expressing hope and respect for the positive values in life whilst also touching on some of the negative aspects of sheltered 70s life.It left me with a warm feeling in my tummy and for many it will be like a having a trip down memory lane.As an actor myself, I would do ANYTHING to be in a movie like this!! Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchants best project to date since the office!!I'd recommend this to everyone!!I loved it !!

on themes of loss, regret, friendship, love, and following one's dreams. This is my favorite British film in quite some time. You will not regret watching this movie.

friendship and wanting more out of life themes perfected by Gervais and Merchant with The Office and Extras . It provides situations and gags that sound relatively unoriginal on paper, but become something new entirely on screen. It has a real heart, genuine emotion, genius humour, and showcases what makes good old-fashioned British dramas the best.However, I fear those seeking a stupid comedy like The Hangover or Cop Out where ridiculous unrealistic characters say random things desperate for laughs will probably be disappointed. If it's cheap laughs you want from Ricky Gervais, watch The Invention of Lying God help you ! I'm also not sure how well this film will sit with American audiences the humour is downplayed and very British In short, a fantastic film for those who appreciate British comedy dramas in the vein of The Full Monty or East is East. Also, watch out for bald-headed Manc Karl Pilkington's 1 second cameo! Classic stuff!

when it needs to be emotional. Talking of emotions, this film really does make you feel them. I felt warm, cold, laughter, anxiety, and tense all within two hours, it really was a fantastic piece of work. I felt that all of the swearing was totally in the right places and really didn't feel unnecessary at all. And possible the most controversial bit of the film- the portrayal of the ignorant racism of the seventies was done in such a way that it wasn't offensive, and all the characters got what was coming to them anyway- for example Freddie's Dad being made to look stupid. The acting is great, from the three mains- Cooke, Hughes and Doolan right down to Anne Reid Freddie's Gran and Gervais himself who only has a small part . I didn't realise Ralph Fiennes was in this, and he pulls off a brilliant performance. Either one of the stories of the three young men can really, I think, identify with anyone and I think this could be enjoyed by all. Give it ago, you never know. You don't have to be a big Gervais fan to enjoy this.

interesting roles I have seen him. Fiennes as the middle class father and boss of our protagonist Freddie, creates a cold and villain like character who without realising it becomes an important influence on the characters decisions. But he deserves praise mainly for his ability to perfect the Berkshire accent! It is nice to see Merchant and Gervais go back behind the camera concentrating on production and letting a young cast convert their typical dry humour and I feel this gives a freshness to the comedy. Because of the young protagonists, Gervais takes a more supporting role in the film. Gervais plays Freddie's father Len. This role is obviously something very new to Gervais and showcases the softer side to his acting that I feel contributes to his most successful performances. He is not 'over the top' and this smaller role means Gervais is a far shot from the cringe-worthy, bad-luck ridden characters we've seen him portray in Ghost Town and Invention of lying. The young actors in the film are a credit to British Cinema, particularly Tom Hughes as the troublesome 'James Dean' rebel we all remember from school. I would like to have seen a bit more from his character. The film as a whole is missing perhaps an overly original plot. However in a teenagers story, set in Reading, in 1973 a huge twist or climax would have looked out of place. I don't think the film will go down in America. Not because of the humour but instead that in the states they won't relate to the situation of the characters. The reason for this is simply because of the lack of class system in the states that was so apparent in 1970's Britain. Overall a great plot, great story and great mix of comedy and drama. Important to remember however the drama aspect of the comedy, it's not something to go see if you fancy a cheap laugh. As Ricky Gervais described it: "An out and out Drama". The story is a poignant one with teary moments and a love story thrown in for good measure and it all flows to a great soundtrack. From the enjoyment I got from this film I think it would be a shame for Gervais to return to America and create another poor commercial script along the lines of Invention of Lying. Hopefully for Gervais & Merchant this is only the beginning of a long stint on the big screen together...Personal Quotes: "Bit rude. He wanted a look at tit's and yours are perfectly applicable""Why does Noddy have a bell on his hat? ...cos'he's a c*nt!""...at your funeral what will they say? He supported Reading FC and liked pickled onions?"

avoid the same life path his parents and contemporaries of leaving school at 14 and work in the local factory for the rest of their lives. He goes to work at a life insurance company run by Mr. Kendrick Ralph Fiennes and taught by Mike Ramsay Matthew Goode to be a salesman. Freddie spends his time with his close friends Bruce Tom Hughes and Snork Jack Doolan and do all the jolly things of life, drinking, fighting and trying to score with girls. But Freddie is slowly growing distance from them as they refuse to shade their childish ways. Freddie remakes a friendship with Julie Felicity Jones , a friend of his when he was 12. She tells Freddie her passion to travel the world and he too has those thoughts embedded in his head. He becomes disillurated with everything in the suburb of Cemetery Junction.Gervais and Merchant are both known for their comedic talents and shown that they have a range of styles; with The Office's mockumentary style and Extras use of non-PC humour and personal humiliation. Gervais' own stand-up acts also relied on non-PC humour. But with Cemetery Junction the comedy is much more natural humour, relying on realistic, witty lines. It's a low key comedy but it is still very funny with laugh out loud moments. Gervais and Merchant do show their range as writers and not having to use post-modern comedy. The only moments when people speak about non-PC issues, e.g. race and mix-race, it was done more as a commentary and criticism of an older generation who are not as educated as their children. Gervais and Merchant also have a brilliant eye as directors. The early 70s was brought to live with amazing detail. The tone and music was perfectly fitting. This is a well-lit film, bright, happy and energetic. They showed that 70s Britain was not all doom and gloom and wanted to avoid kitchen-sink realism which is popular in British cinema.The two directors do not just tell a comedy story but also a effective drama, a coming-of-age story that even has some relevance today: young people deciding whether to leave their home and travel the world. Freddie and Julie symbolies these ideas and avoid being like their parents. Julie's mother Emily Watson offers a touching performance as a woman who has been broken down by husband, acting as an important symbol. Watson's role is small but very powerful. There are scenes which are very serious and shows that in this type of comedy that real drama is needed to give the film more heart and keep the audience hooked. Gervais and Merchant can handle dramatic material as well as comedy.The young cast show their talent, particularly Cooke and Hughes. They were convicting looking almost like twins showing two very different characters, with Cooke really wants to change and do something positive in his life, whilst Hughes was a man saying he wants to leave but does nothing about it and filled with anger. There are more experience actors to offer balance: as mention Watson was excellent. Fiennes and Goode both offer slimy performance as the closest thing to villains in the film. Gervais has a small role in the film and offers a good amount of non-PC humour with Anne Reid playing Freddie's Gran. Jones offered a decent performance, attempting to give Julie some heart and emotion. But her role was a little clichéd. However Doolan's character was not as believable as the dimwitted and slightly weird friend. He was not realistic in a film which is pretty down to Earth.The story too a little cliché, but Gervais and Merchant were able to give the film enough of an twist to keep Cemetery Junction fresh and make it a funny comedy drama.

very very good film making IMO. Great use of music too, which like Tarantino movies always adds massively to the overall appeal.Can't recommend it enough. Gervais and Merchant should be very proud of themselves and I hope they're aware that this is a much better film than the box office takings would suggest.Similar film styles would be East is East, Sideways and maybe, Letter to Brezhnev. If you liked those, watch this. You'll love it.

establishment thought they had won the argument that there was no cause left worth rebelling for/against, when there was still a workshop rather than silicon chip flavor to working life.You can criticize the Hollywood stuff if you like, but Gervais and Merchant like to work where they can at different levels, as long as they get to take the mick out of all of them. I didn't hear the old radio shows much, but enough to know that. This is no exception. Not a strong plot. You have seen it lots of times before. Billy Liar is a better variation. But great dialog, great comic acting , beautifully observed, very funny, fantastic soundtrack. The only time I have ever liked the Osmonds' Crazy Horses. Great entertainment. You'd need to be really hard to please to be disappointed on that score. Personally I'd have liked a bit more sync with the Reading Festival, maybe some Rory Gallagher on the soundtrack, but bluesy Zeppelin will do, I'm not complaining. I'll take 2 stars off, though.You still have to read between the lines to see the influence Ireland is starting to have. Made me wonder if they were starting to chicken out a bit from the path they've established, but we'll see, and I think there is something there. In the meantime, if you fancy a really funny film set in Belfast different decade, 73 in Belfast was hell there's always "An Everlasting Piece". But Cemetery Junction is not as petty and insignificant as some of the reviewers suggest. What exactly were they expecting? "Jane Eyre"? "War and Peace"?