Clichés abound in "Cemetery Junction", a wholly generic "coming of age" movie, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, two big name comedians in Britain.
Aside from several gross-out gags and moments of crude humour, the plot is pure formula, the audience watching as a group of friends attempt to escape the dreary confines of small town Britain. Of course, like "American Graffiti", the one kid who has his heart set on staying in town and getting a "proper job" (the film rightfully despises post 60s white collar Britain), ends up leaving and going on an "artistic adventure", whilst the bad boys and likable losers, all of whom previously looked ready to take on the world, remain stuck behind. If you've seen "American Graffiti", "The Education of Charlie Banks", "The Last Detail", "Scent of a Woman", "Bad Influence", "Starter For Ten", "The Wanderers" etc, you've already seen this movie. Ironic that most movies which advocate "non conformity", "sticking it to the man" and "being yourself" are so drearily formulaic.
Still, Gervais and Merchant insert some good jokes here and there and the film is fast and slick enough to overcome its clichés. Like most films made in Britain, "Cemetery Junction" uses every trick it can to make England seem bright, sunny and cheery. Here we see Gervais and Merchant overusing colour correction and straining to shoot on sunny days. The film is ashamed of itself, trying to capture the more marketable, sun-kissed tone of LA.
7/10 – Worth one viewing.
Aside from several gross-out gags and moments of crude humour, the plot is pure formula, the audience watching as a group of friends attempt to escape the dreary confines of small town Britain. Of course, like "American Graffiti", the one kid who has his heart set on staying in town and getting a "proper job" (the film rightfully despises post 60s white collar Britain), ends up leaving and going on an "artistic adventure", whilst the bad boys and likable losers, all of whom previously looked ready to take on the world, remain stuck behind. If you've seen "American Graffiti", "The Education of Charlie Banks", "The Last Detail", "Scent of a Woman", "Bad Influence", "Starter For Ten", "The Wanderers" etc, you've already seen this movie. Ironic that most movies which advocate "non conformity", "sticking it to the man" and "being yourself" are so drearily formulaic.
Still, Gervais and Merchant insert some good jokes here and there and the film is fast and slick enough to overcome its clichés. Like most films made in Britain, "Cemetery Junction" uses every trick it can to make England seem bright, sunny and cheery. Here we see Gervais and Merchant overusing colour correction and straining to shoot on sunny days. The film is ashamed of itself, trying to capture the more marketable, sun-kissed tone of LA.
7/10 – Worth one viewing.