Cemetary Junction (2010) - Rating 3/5

Opening the movie with Vaughn Williams, a character is mocked for his taste in 'poncy', 'gay' music. He's advised he should listen to cool and hip stuff, and suggests some Elton John! This is the opening of Cemetary Junction, which has a touch of Guy Richie about it in my view.

Enjoyable. Directorially impressive, considering it's a debut. Style and setting detailed and convincing, especially with the soundtrack that feels relevant (70s). Visually very absorbing.

But not without flaws, drawbacks.

Dialogue peppered with trademark Gervais, consistently funny and subversive. But not enough to lift the story. The story feels very British. Too British in fact: nice, neat, reserved, very linear. Acting was quite weak from the lead trio: stereotypes - a bit annoying after a while. Echoes of Nicholous Hoult's 'Tony' in Skins; the polished pretty-boy with high pretensions; and the English Jack Black, for example, seem forced. Felt there were moments that were trying to be profoundly emotional, but ultimately failed to engage. Emily Watson, and Ralph Fiennes feel under-used, and I felt a little disappointed. The most engaging actor for me was Matthew Goode, the protegé of Ralph Fiennes. Brings a real energy to the movie, a sense of menacing potential, disguised behind that British veneer. Apart from a few dramatic set-pieces (the singing at the Winner's Ball, the village prison 'confrontation scene', and the final Rebel without a Cause punch) it's quite predictable, highly contrived to the extent it's almost cartoonish unrealistic. Emily Watson's stance in the end feels very out of character, and not very believable. Even the title doesn't leave too much to the imagination: a series of choices on a journey that could potentially have morbid life consequences. Not very challenging cinema.

A polished short story, that's stylistically absorbing (visually and music-wise), nice, neat and predictable, peppered with Ricky Gervais-isms. Not really material for a feature-length movie, but more Sunday afternoon entertainment on the BBC that's mostly quite enjoyable, and cringe-worthy uncomfortable (some of the jokes, and a lot of the acting from the lead trio).