David Brent: Life On The Road

You can't help but think that Ricky Gervais' past life as lead singer of 1980s band Seona Dancing is at least a little reflected in his fictional persona's quest for the glamour of rock stardom. At the very least, this first big screen outing for his greatest creation, the cringeworthy David Brent, gives Gervais the chance to sing.

This feature film catches up with Brent some 12 years after The Office, another mockumentary series following his clueless exploits. Brent - now a travelling salesman with toiletry company, Lavichem - self-funds a tour of his old band, comically titled Foregone Conclusion, and the cameras are there to catch every angle of the ongoing car crash.

As with most things David Brent, it's destined to be a disaster as this appallingly sexist, racist and politically incorrect guy tries desperately to be cool and to be liked. You know he's not a bad guy deep down, but he just can't help the verbal diarrhoea that constantly escapes from his mouth as he manages to offend just about every racial and cultural group there is.

David Brent: Life On The Road starts off hilariously, with fans of the original BBC series The Office reassured that Gervais hasn't lost his touch with this inspired character. But it's not just a cheap laugh at Brent's expense. Some genuinely powerful pathos comes into the mix and we truly come to care for him despite his many flaws. His excruciating and inappropriate lyrics - which make his young band-for-hire want to be swallowed up by the stage - are so awful and yet so heartfelt. It's a skilful mix that somebody less talented than writer-director Gervais might've pitched off-key. As a true comic master, he's got the formula pretty spot-on here.

This is Gervais' film, but Ben Bailey Smith is also outstanding as a talented young rapper whom Brent has accompanying him in an attempt to appear less daggy. There are some fantastic comic set pieces on offer, as Brent unwittingly humiliates his sidekick by getting him to rap to his appalling songs.