THE comedy duo behind The Office and Extras mark their first foray on to the big screen this week with the 1970s set Cemetery Junction.
Twenty-something Freddie Taylor (Christian Cooke) wants something more. More than a job at the factory like his down-trodden dad (Ricky Gervais) and best friend Bruce (Tom Hughes) who spends his time drinking, fighting and socialising with the ladies.
After landing a job at a life insurance firm run by the stern Mr Kendrick (Ralph Fiennes), Freddie thinks his future is finally secure.
But after bumping into his ambitious old friend Julie (Felicity Jones), he soon starts to realise there is a whole world outside of Reading.
Can he take a chance and leave his safe life, or is he destined to live and die in Cemetery Junction?
Sterling cast
This may only be Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant first feature as both writers and directors, but their reputation in television has certainly attracted a sterling assortment of talent.
Cemetery Junction amiably draws together a strew of veteran screen talents with a cast of relative unknowns - and it works well.
The movie newbies all bring out strong performances and fill their mildly stereotypical personas well - the smart one, the cool one, the awkward one - while Felicity Jones gives a strong turn as the pretty but feisty one.
Backing them up are screen-grabbing moments from Matthew Goode, quiet steeliness from Emily Watson and Ralph Fiennes in usual form
Even Gervais shines, adding comic humour with his banter with Anne Reid as Freddie’s grandmother while never attempting to steal the screen.
Stunning sets
Stepping back in time to 1970 life, the screen is filled with pitch-perfect set design at every turn.
From the period buses to the well-dressed nightclubs - attention to detail is obvious. But the lush pallet of colour is where the message of the film becomes mixed.
While Gervais and Merchant paint Reading as a town with no future for the young protagonists, the vibrant hues tell a different story. It is only the drab, vacated family home of Bruce which sucks the life - and indeed colour - out of the otherwise striking scenes to awkwardly affirm his broken home narrative.
Where the film really falls down is the story.
The gaggle of comedic moments and occasional dose of drama fail to disguise the paper-thin and well visited plot of a young man wanting to leave home.
Even at a mere 95 minutes, the tale feels drawn out and lacking in more connecting moments between the eager Freddie and femme évolution Julie.
But as an enjoyable British comedy - which is sure to tug on a few nostalgia strings - it more than hits the mark.
7/10 - Unoriginal but enjoyable.