Cemetery Junction- (15)- 9 out of 10

Let us begin with a confession. I do not like Ricky Gervais. I do not find him funny in anyway at all. Admittedly, Extras had it's moments I'll admit and I can appreciate the role The Office played in redefining the British sitcom but I just don't particularly like the man or his style of comedy. Furthermore, it seems that if you are from Reading you have to love him.

However, this is a genuinely funny, touching, moving film so my kudos must go to Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant, who I have always much preferred of the pair.

The movie documents the lives of three friends in a 1970s dead-end town and how their differing personalities potentially destroy their lifelong friendship. Freddie Taylor (Christian Cooke) discovers that there's more to life than shagging, drinking and fighting but then finding out there is also more to it than getting a 9-5, buying a house and wondering who the fuck you are in the morning to quote Trainspotting, which this film is very similar to, minus the heroin. Whilst another, Bruce (Tom Hughes), is very happy with what he has, basically being a big fish in a small pond, working in a factory in the week, getting pissed and laid at the weekend.

What is encapsulated perfectly is the feeling of growing up in a dead end town, whatever part of the country you are from. The fact that this reviewer is from Reading, the town Cemetery Junction is largely based on, only adds to the sense of trying to escape such a life.

Despite the stunning performances from Cooke and Hughes, the awesome soundtrack and the superb gritty, vintage style of filming, you just cannot escape the fact that the script is masterfully written and full kudos must go to Gervais and Merchant for producing something truly brilliant.

A highlight is the conversations held between the three generations of the Taylor family about racism, class, culture, identity are conversations that anyone that was 18 between the early 1970s to the present day can remember having with their own parents and grandparents.

Also, again from a personal standpoint, the characters are all very Reading, with very Reading accents, very Reading sayings, very Reading opinions and ultimately a very Reading (i.e. rather poor) sense of self worth in life.

Ultimately, Cemetery Junction has the potential to be one of the year's standout films and a springboard for a new assault on the film industry from Gervais and Merchant . If they can keep this up, my opinion of Gervais may change also.

PS. there is a place in Reading called Cemetery Junction but this of course adds to the metaphor of the title. Wonderful


Dan