Cemetery Junction
I'm a big fan of Ricky Gervais (except for The Office oddly enough) and the previous two features that he's been involved with, Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying are both among my favorite comedies of the past decade. They are hilarious but pack a surprisingly good emotional, romantic punch. This made Cemetery Junction a no-brainer to watch. I hadn't realized that this isn't actually a comedy at all really but rather a fairly straight drama about a trio of boys stuck in a blue collar neighborhood trying to figure out how to break out of the cycle of disappointment.
I have to admit that the first half had me a bit worried. It tried for a bit too much broad humor moments that kind of kept you at a distance from the characters. But toward the end it really hits you. The Bruce and Freddie paths open up really well. Emily Watson is absolutely terrific here playing the wife of Freddie's boss. It is a small part but really it is one scene between her and Felicity Jones that solidifies the film's quality.
This is a film with its tough moments and it takes a bit to get into, but it really turns out rather strongly. I continue to be blown away by the emotional resonance that Gervais/Merchant are able to put into their collaborations considering how icy and distant The Office was. This definitely means I'll continue to seek out their work.
Also, too, it is the small pleasures in life that one must appreciate. For me, one of those is Matthew Goode in a film. And he's in this one. Not a great part really, but that isn't the point now is it.