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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Thirteen years separate landmark BBC sitcom The Office and this film spin-off that finds erstwhile management bod David Brent reduced to tampon salesman. Writer/director Ricky Gervais slips back into the role with ease and using the same mockumentary style also shows off his musical talents as Brent takes a holiday and hires a tour bus to ferry his band around Reading. Being based in Slough, this costs him more in expenses and dignity than in petrol. There isn't a plot as such, just a series of toe-curling stage turns while pressure builds backstage. Rapper Doc Brown re-teams with Gervais following Equality Street, their hilarious 2013 music video for Comic Relief, explaining that he had signed a management deal with Brent only for the wannabe entertainer to take over the show. Ditties like Native American ("soar like an eagle, sit like a pelican") are wryly funny, with punch-lines cleverly delivered to the beat, but Brent is still at his cringe-making best in the offices of Lavichem. What could have been This Is Spinal Tap meets Alan Partridge doesn't quite catch fire and Gervais doesn't fully exploit the big-screen canvas. But, as a portrait of a tragicomic hero - snigger-inducing yet ultimately heart-warming - it's an irresistible bit of chilled-out entertainment.

How to watch

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Credits

Cast

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David BrentRicky Gervais
Dom JohnsonBen Bailey Smith
Dan HarveyTom Basden
Nigel MartinTom Bennett
Pauline GrayJo Hartley
DrummerAndy Burrows
MiriamRebecca Gethings
Jerry "Jezza" CollinsAndrew Brooke
Karen ParasharMandeep Dhillon
Serena WilsonAbbie Murphy
Dr Vivienne KeatingNina Sosanya
Briony JonesDiane Morgan
DJKevin Bishop

Crew

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DirectorRicky Gervais

Details

Theatrical distributor
Entertainment One
Released on
2016-08-19
Languages
English
Guidance
Swearing
Available on
DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour

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