Review of Cemetery Junction (2010) by Matthew A — 29 Oct 2010

Hmm, a comedy? I'd say more like a drama.

Cemetery Junction was written and directed by two great comedians, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the same guys who brought you The Office (and a rather recent show An Idiot Abroad). However Cemetery Junction failed to give me the laughs. There were some laughs in places, even though they were rather primitive for the most part, unless I just didn't get the humour and just laughed at the most basic of humour in the movie.

Other than that, the movie was more of an emotional drama if you ask me. I think in terms of putting across a clear message to the viewers it succeeds. The film is about a young adult, who has aspirations in life, to get a job, to be rich and to have a family. Two of his friends however are less interested in that and just live life as it is. The location is supposed to be one of the poorest in UK as I've gathered and so it was a big deal to be able to get out there and to get a well-paid job. Well it is a big deal even now, but for those guys it would've been a dream. Things get more complicated when the main character meets a childhood friend he falls in love with.

The film showed contrast of lives well - the people who want to do something big with their life and those who just prefer to get on with it, the people who value freedom, independency and personal aspirations, and those who just follow the standard conventional methods and try to mute the others. I think that was the movie's strength. However I was preparing myself to watch a comedy, and in terms of giving laughter it didn't do so well in my opinion.

All in all an OK movie. I doubt I'd watch it again though.