End Credits:
David Brent –
Life on the Road

Plus Nine Lives

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Ricky Gervais finally brings his cringingly awkward and delusional character to cinemas in David Brent: Life on the Road. It’s been 15 years since the BBC2 “documentary” The Office and Brent, still with dreams of becoming a rock star, takes a break from his sales rep job to tour with his band, believing he’s to be filmed for a new “rockumentary”. With the film crew really there for just a “where are they now” piece, the result is more Spinal Tap than Scorsese on the Rolling Stones, and with poor ticket sales he must finance things himself. Whether you were a massive fan of The Office or not surely you will have encountered a Brent type before, and even after 15 years the laughs still come from his misguided casual sexism, racism and other social faux pas.

Currently battling Suicide Squad for this summer’s “most hated by critics” trophy is Nine Lives, and despite a strong cast including Kevin Spacey and Christopher Walken, this cat body swap comedy looks like something Netflix could have picked up on the cheap. Workaholic daredevil billionaire and cat hater Tom Brand (Spacey) is put into the body of his daughter’s birthday present, Mr Fuzzypants, as a means to force him to connect with his family. And while audiences and this critic thoroughly enjoyed Suicide Squad – which while far from perfect was a chaotic, fun-filled comic romp with plenty of highs and lows – Nine Lives is to be discarded with the kitty litter.

Mark Wheeler

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David Brent –
Life on the Road

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