Such a frustrating disappointment

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

If you are a fan of The Office and David Brent then you will probably really enjoy this. The music is fun and at times even good. Jokes are classic cringe-worthy Ricky Gervais.Emotionally we follow the same story arc as The Office Christmas special. David Brent is stepping out into the world. We want him to succeed in his dream but reality quickly steps in.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning The insufferable David Brent (Ricky Gervais) has moved on from his days at Warnham Hogg, and is now a sales agent for a cleaning products company. But feeling unappreciated and unsatisfied in his role (though unable to see how he's the cause of his own demise), he decides to reform his band Forgone Conclusion and sets off on a nationwide tour, but playing in small venues to a far from sold out crowd. Brent's support act is aspiring rapper Dom Johnson (Doc Brown), who upstages him at every turn.Huge cultural phenomenon though it was, The Office never really entered into the list of my favourite British comedies. Personally, I preferred Gervais's celebrity satire Extras, which just caught my eye that little bit more. But that's not to say I couldn't remember the glittering moments of comedy gold from it, and Gervais certainly created a culturally iconic comedy creation that has endured. I've caught this belated film adaptation at a time when his name is mud because of his tasteless baby death jokes, and so it's lucky it's not just come out on general release, and this serves to transport you back to a simpler time before he got so carried away with himself.As Steve Coogan proved with his filmic Alan Partridge several years ago, you can resurrect an old character and still win over the critics. Whether Gervais's Brent adaptation was received so favourably, I'm not sure, but like the best of them, the concept is stretched that bit further in a film format than on TV, and there are times when the pace suffers and you wonder whether the material has the strength to last the length. Luckily, after a sluggish start, Gervais brings the character to life and makes him funny all over again, a guy who thinks he's so cool and talented but just comes off like someone's embarrassing uncle. Where it slides is the inconsistent tone between making him an arrogant, insensitive arsehole and lovable buffoon, which is a tricky roll of the dice.It struggles to really keep the pace of the show, but it's faithful to its source, and there are enough belly laughs to make it worth your time. ***

Ricky Gervais will not go to his grave a poor man, even though his work since The Office seems to get weaker as it goes. Perhaps this is why he returns to where he was at his best, and the character that made him famous, but there doesn't seem to be many other reasons why David Brent is back on our screens (and the big screen at that).From the start, we are reminded of the cringe humor that he is so good at, and there is plenty of that here. When it is at its best it is seamless and comes from a place of truth within the character; too often though it is cringe for the sake of it – perhaps still funny but not rooted in something honest in the way The Office did so very well. This links to a much bigger point, and defines why this film didn't work for me even though it got a few laughs – the heart. In The Office, we did care for Brent and this made the cringe worse because we wanted good for him even as his character hurt himself. This remembered connection helps the film, but is not enough to do all the work, and mostly the film doesn't bring anything else to the table on that front. It is really only the final 15 minutes where suddenly we have an attempt at an emotional core to the film – which is nice on paper, but really too little and too late.This gives it the constant feeling of being totally in the shadow of his better outing, and this is not helped by the same running through the writing, performances, and general scenario. Some good cringe moments and laughs, but mostly it is an average film which relies too heavily on past glory, and limits itself by leaving anything approaching heart or pathos until the final few scenes.

OK, don't shoot me, I'm a humongous Ricky Gervais fan, ever since I saw The Office for the first time, so I may not be the most objective of people. But films are made for us all, including crazy fans like me, and we're all entitled to our opinion. And my opinion is - it is brilliant and I love it. I loved cringing all the time at Brent's pathetic ridiculousness, but I also loved his humanity and true heartbreak. I don't agree the film is over-sentimental. We get a chance to see Brent's soft side, though he's trying his best to hide it, and it's great. Ricky Gervais is an absolute genius at portraying this character, and I hope it's not the last we see of him. Additionally, since I have a chance to do it here, I want to express my admiration for Ricky Gervais as a person, a beautiful person who stands up for those who have no voice. RESPECT!!!