David Brent: Life on the Road

David Brent: Life on the Road
Directed by Ricky Gervais
Produced by Ricky Gervais
Charlie Hanson
Written by Ricky Gervais
Starring
Cinematography Remi Adefarasin
Production
company
Distributed by Entertainment One
Release dates
  • 19 August 2016 (2016-08-19) (United Kingdom)
Running time
 96 minutes[1]
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Box office $5,511,343

David Brent: Life on the Road is a 2016 British mockumentary comedy film written, directed, and produced by Ricky Gervais and released by Entertainment One.[2] The film stars Gervais as David Brent, a character he played in the BBC television comedy series The Office,[3] who has a film crew that shadows Brent as he travels up and down the country living his dream of being a rock star.[4] Gervais said, "This film delves much more into his private life than The Office ever did and we really get to peel back the layers of this extraordinary, ordinary man." He has emphasised that it is "not an Office film".[5]

The film was released on 19 August 2016 in the UK by Entertainment One.

Plot

Set 15 years after the events of The Office, David Brent, a sales rep after leaving Wernham Hogg, is on tour. He believes he will be filmed like Martin Scorsese filmed The Rolling Stones — although it's actually a 'where are they now' type documentary. He takes a holiday to tour with his band Foregone Conclusion but has to use his pension to fund part of his rock concert, as the ticket sales are less than he can afford to pay his band members.[6] Dom Johnson (Ben Bailey Smith) travels alongside Brent, who is holding Johnson's career back as a musician.

Cast

Music

Gervais announced that he will release the film's soundtrack album under Brent's recording label Juxtaposition Records.[8] He finished writing the songs for the movie in November 2014.[9][10]

Chris Martin of Coldplay, who guest starred in Extras with Gervais, recorded music for the soundtrack together with him.[11] Andy Burrows plays the drummer for Foregone Conclusion, and wrote some original songs with Gervais.[12] They both have written several original songs for the film, including 'Please Don't Make Fun of the Disabled' and 'Native American.'[13] There are some familiar songs Gervais sang as Brent in The Office, and he has also included seven or eight new songs. He said, "there's a few we did for The Office, like 'Free Love Freeway,' and also 'Paris Nights' and 'Spaceman Came Down.'" He and his band have had fun singing crass lyrics or using derivative chords that haven't been used since the '80s when composing the songs for Life on the Road.[14] In May Gervais announced that Brent would be releasing a single in July 2016 ahead of the movie.[15]

On 20 October 2015, Gervais published an exclusive photo of Brent on the set of his music video shoot for his song "Lady Gypsy".[16] On October 24, the Daily Mail reported a first look with pictures showing Brent cavorting with a woman dressed in gypsy folk dress, while he strums a guitar.[17] The soundtrack album was released together with the film.

The David Brent Songbook was released by Blink Publishing on 11 August 2016 eight days before the premiere of Life on the Road.[18] Included are introductions by the character, exclusive images and the tracks arranged for piano, voice and guitar. Gervais said: "This book is a dream come true for Brent...Even though this is clearly a humour book, the sheet music is real and the songs are insanely catchy and easy to play. Go and get the guitar."[19] Gervais revealed that the album has 15 tracks, with the vinyl edition containing 2 LPs.[20]

On July 8, 2016, Gervais released Brent's single 'Lady Gypsy'.[21]

Gervais has set some live David Brent and Foregone Conclusion concerts to promote the film.

Soundtrack

  1. "Ooh La La"
  2. "Native American"
  3. "Lonely Cowboy"
  4. "Free Love Freeway"
  5. "Life on the Road"
  6. "Slough"
  7. "Thank Fuck It's Friday"
  8. "Lady Gypsy"
  9. "Please Don't Make Fun of the Disableds"
  10. "Paris Nights"
  11. "Don't Cry It's Christmas"
  12. "Spaceman"
  13. "Equality Street"
  14. "Ain't No Trouble"
  15. "Electricity"

[22]

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] 31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 103
Irish Albums (IRMA)[25] 21
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[26] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 3

Production

The film was first revealed in August 2013.[28] Gervais said that he was excited to show the world what David Brent is up to now.[29] Stephen Merchant, co-creator of The Office, was not involved in the film's production.[30]

Principal photography began in November 2015, with Gervais directing as well as starring. Filming ran through 18 December 2015, and was shot in locations in London and Slough.[31]

On 7 April 2016, Gervais released the first teaser trailer of the movie. It showed Brent in his current office interacting with his co-workers.[32]

Release

Entertainment One and BBC Films co-financed the film.[31] Entertainment One distributed the film in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.[33] Open Road Films distributed the film in the United States,[34] although Netflix later acquired distribution rights to the film in all territories excluding the UK, Australia and New Zealand.[2]

On 15 March 2016 Gervais released the first posters of the film, both featuring Gervais as Brent.[35] The film received its first official release on 19 August 2016 in the United Kingdom.[36] On 7 April 2016, Gervais released the first teaser trailer of the movie. It showed Brent in his Office interacting with his co-workers.[37]

Reception

The film has received mixed reviews from critics. It currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 67% based on 52 reviews, with an average score of 6.4/10, and an audience score of 55% based on 1,211 ratings[38]

Dave Robinson of outlet Crash Landed gave the film 3 stars (out of 5), praising its ability to "imbue the show with many laugh out loud moments" but adding the film "feels like a budget TV special on the big screen" and pointing out an "abrupt" and "hamfisted" conclusion.[39] Adam Woodward of Little White Lies states that Brent "doesn’t change or grow as a character, at least not in any meaningful sense", and suggests this is why "a last-ditch stab at reconciliation feels inauthentic and unearned" [40] David Sexton of the London Evening Standard appreciated the film ending, stating: "the bleakness is ameliorated at the last" [41]

References

  1. ↑ "DAVID BRENT'S LIFE ON THE ROAD (15)". British Board of Film Classification. June 15, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Petski, Denise (June 16, 2016). "Netflix Confirms Deal For Ricky Gervais' 'The Office' Spinoff Movie". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Ricky Gervais". ShortList Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ricky Gervais Confirms Feature-Length David Brent Mockumentary Film, 'Life On The Road'". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ricky Gervais to Star as David Brent in 'Office' Movie Sequel". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Alex Ritman. "Ricky Gervais Making 'The Office' Movie Featuring His Character, David Brent". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "First Look at Ricky Gervais' David Brent in New Film Life on the Road". Radiotimes. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ricky Gervais to release Life on the Road soundtrack album". Ratiotimes. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Alex Ritman. "Ricky Gervais Finishes Writing Songs for 'The Office' Spinoff Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "How Ricky Gervais Will Set His Office Spinoff Movie Apart". Cinemablend.com. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Ricky Gervais Signs Up Coldplay's Chris Martin To Record Music for David Brent Movie". Radiotimes. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Andy Burrows to play drummer in Ricky Gervais' David Brent movie". Top Tidings. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ricky Gervais completes rough cut of David Brent movie". NME. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "The Office's Ricky Gervais offers more details about upcoming David Brent album". The Sun. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Ricky Gervais to release a David Brent single ahead of Life on the Road movie". Radiotimes. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "David Brent strikes a sultry pose in new picture from Life on the Road". Radiotimes. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "FIRST LOOK: Life On The Road is sweet then? Ricky Gervais is back as a slimmed down David Brent... who even wins over mystery vixen in scenes from the new film". Dailymail. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "David Brent Companion Book to Blink". The Bookseller. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "Grab your guitar, Ricky Gervais is releasing a David Brent songbook". Radiotimes. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  20. ↑ "Ricky Gervais is performing stand up gigs in London this May". Radiotimes. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "The new David Brent single is here & it's amazing". Shortlist. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Watch Ricky Gervais finishing the David Brent album at Abbey Road". Shortlist. Retrieved 7 July 206. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  23. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – David Brent & Foregone Conclusion – Life on the Road". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – David Brent & Foregone Conclusion – Life on the Road" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 34, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  27. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Ricky Gervais to make a David Brent film". Telegraph. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  29. ↑ "Cannes: Ricky Gervais' 'Office' Spinoff Movie Gets Financing". Variety. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  30. ↑ NME.COM. "Andy Burrows to play drummer in Ricky Gervais' David Brent movie - NME.COM". NME.COM. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  31. 1 2 "First Look: Ricky Gervais Returns to 'Office' Roots in 'Life on the Road". Screendaily. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  32. ↑ "The first trailer for the David Brent film has landed". Shortlist. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  33. ↑ "Cannes:eOne, BBC Films Join Ricky Gervais' 'Life on the Road'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  34. ↑ Choi, Sarah (23 June 2015). "Open Road Films Acquires Ricky Gervais' 'The Office' Spinoff 'Life on the Road'". Indiewire.
  35. ↑ "Ricky Gervais means business in the first official posters for David Brent: Life on the Road". Shortlist. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  36. ↑ "Ricky Gervais 'Office' Spinoff Bought by Open Road". Variety. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "The first trailer for the David Brent film has landed". Shortlist. Retrieved 10 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  38. ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/david_brent_life_on_the_road/
  39. ↑ Robinson, Dave (August 23, 2016). "David Brent: Life on the Road – Film Review – Crash Landed". Crash Landed. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  40. ↑ Woodward, Adam (August 10, 2016). "David Brent: Life on the Road – Little White Lies". Little White Lies. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  41. ↑ Sexton, David (August 19, 2016). "David Brent – Life on the Road, film review: Too many gigs, too many songs and some genuine narcissism – London Evening Standard". London Evening Standard. Retrieved August 26, 2016.

External links

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