The original office is one of the best comedies on TV. David Brent was essentially a good person, striving to do (mostly) good things and caring for his employees, but because of his lack of social skills became cringe worthy and other did the wrong thing. He was the boss and his employees had to play along with him, but to an extent they also tolerated him. Tim, Gareth and Dawn didn't hate him generally. That way the audience was able to laugh about him without feeling bad.
In the 2nd season he lost his job, his co-workers and everything he had. Laughing about him became unpleasant because Brent realised that he essentially was a loser.
Still the Christmas special turned things around, picked him up, hinted at him changing for the better and that happy end for Dawn and Tim was the most touching love story that I remember on TV.
The movie unfortunately undoes all the good. Brent gets kicked in the groin relentlessly to a point that it becomes painful to watch. I was reminded of Melancholia (yes, it was that bad!). For example, he pays a band to tour with him. They all resent him and he even has to pay them extra so that they have a drink with him. When they do they all check their iPhones.
Brent even contemplates suicide and shows him in therapy. It's not funny to laugh about someone who is humiliated to that degree. Ironically there is even a song about not making fun of "the disabled". If Gervais had only listened.
The film focuses entirely on Brent. There are no other characters, no alternate story lines, there is no character development or story arc. The film just drags along showing Brent being eviscerated on camera.
The two people who like him are marginal and remain quiet only to come forward at the end to provide a lazy relief.
It is a sad film that made me actually depressed. Please, Ricky, no more David Brent!
In the 2nd season he lost his job, his co-workers and everything he had. Laughing about him became unpleasant because Brent realised that he essentially was a loser.
Still the Christmas special turned things around, picked him up, hinted at him changing for the better and that happy end for Dawn and Tim was the most touching love story that I remember on TV.
The movie unfortunately undoes all the good. Brent gets kicked in the groin relentlessly to a point that it becomes painful to watch. I was reminded of Melancholia (yes, it was that bad!). For example, he pays a band to tour with him. They all resent him and he even has to pay them extra so that they have a drink with him. When they do they all check their iPhones.
Brent even contemplates suicide and shows him in therapy. It's not funny to laugh about someone who is humiliated to that degree. Ironically there is even a song about not making fun of "the disabled". If Gervais had only listened.
The film focuses entirely on Brent. There are no other characters, no alternate story lines, there is no character development or story arc. The film just drags along showing Brent being eviscerated on camera.
The two people who like him are marginal and remain quiet only to come forward at the end to provide a lazy relief.
It is a sad film that made me actually depressed. Please, Ricky, no more David Brent!