Like many comedians, Ricky Gervais divides opinion. If you’ve not been a fan of his before – this will do nothing to change your mind. However for those of you who have enjoyed the vast majority of his work, you’ll be pleased to know that Life on the Road is a success. Many were surprised at the announcement of Gervais bringing back one of his most beloved characters which was met with much trepidation.
Luckily enough, most fears were put to rest with the release of ‘Equality Street’ which was not only a funny insight into the weird world of Brent but it was also, strangely enough, a catchy song. We were then treated to a handful of webisodes where Brent would go into great detail about the inspiration behind the track he was about to play, whether it was him repping in Slough to him philosophizing about love.
With Life on the Road, we get more of the same. Catchy songs, cringe comedy and a load of heart. What makes this comedy stand out from the rest is the substance behind the humor. Gervais has made a career out of creating sympathetic characters who deep down just want to be loved and Brent is no different. It’s almost at times tragic, watching a character who’s desperate to be accepted, desperate to make an impact and desperate to fulfil his dreams. And yet, he’s a character which a lot of people can relate to on many different levels.
Unfortunately most comedies nowadays lack any kind of substance and simply go straight for shock value but Ricky Gervais proves once again, that comedy and tragedy can go hand in hand.
Many will be surprised to hear that Life on the Road plays it pretty safe although that maybe due to the fact that we’re already accustomed to Brent’s antics. There is however, a whole load of cringe comedy on show throughout which will make even the strongest of personalities wince in disbelief. Although the satire from his previous work seems to have taken a step back, it’s been replaced by more character depth as we begin to dig deeper into Brent’s life and what he’s been up to in the past 15 years.
In some ways Life on the Road has a fable like quality to it, as it explores themes such as what it means to be happy and individuality. When it comes to individuality aspect however, it’s a shame that Doc Brown doesn’t have much to do as Brent’s bandmate, Dom Johnson. He certainly has the comedic chops to have created something special with Gervais however his role is limited and his sporadic inclusion seemed like a missed opportunity.
Overall, Life on the Road is a one man show where Ricky Gervais steals the limelight whether we like it or not. The movie by no means exceeds expectations although it doesn’t exactly dampen spirits either. A solid comedy which packs plenty of emotion and a belly load of laughs. If one things for certain it’s that you’ll be leaving the cinema with a smile on your face and a song in your head. Now that’s a forgone conclusion!