Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the duo behind the BBC's Office, travel back to 1973 for this serio-comic
coming-of-age story. Inspired by Gervais's Reading hometown, Cemetery Junction is the type of small-minded burg Freddie
Taylor (Christian Cooke, likable and attractive) longs to escape. Fortunately, he receives a job offer from Mr. Kendrick
(a smarmy Ralph Fiennes), leading to a gig selling life insurance. His best mates, the goofy Snork (Jack Doolan) and
rebellious Bruce (Tom Hughes, the film's true star), can't imagine anything more dull, but Freddie, who wants to travel
the world, sees it as his way out. Kendrick pairs Freddie with Mike (Matthew Goode, great value), who proves that the
nice-guy approach loses sales (Emily Watson shines as Kendrick's browbeaten wife). While Freddie pines for the boss's
daughter (and Mike's fiancée), Julie (Felicity Jones), Bruce works with Freddie's father, Len (Gervais), in a factory,
and tangles with the law (refreshingly, the local sergeant has a sympathetic side). If things end as one might expect,
that doesn't make Cemetery Junction any less enjoyable, but it does help to explain why it didn't receive a U.S.
theatrical release. By focusing on a young Brit anxious to find his place in the world, the directors provide a
companion piece to pictures like Starter for 10 and An Education. Familiar or not, it's still superior to most
mainstream comedies… including a few with which Gervais has been involved. A soundtrack filled with energizing glam-rock
classics further elevates their efforts. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
