David Brent: Life on the Road
Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): February 10, 2017
7.2
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
14
Mixed:
9
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Stream On
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
drlowdonFeb 22, 2017
I personally think the original UK version of The Office is a masterpiece and to this day it is still arguably the best sit-com ever produced. When I heard that Ricky Gervais was planning to bring back David Brent I was worried it would spoilI personally think the original UK version of The Office is a masterpiece and to this day it is still arguably the best sit-com ever produced. When I heard that Ricky Gervais was planning to bring back David Brent I was worried it would spoil the legacy of one of comedies most memorable characters. Fortunately it isn't as bad as I feared it might be but, much like Life's Too Short and (the awful) Derek, everything is so heavy handed that the emotional pay-offs it so desperately hopes for just aren't earned. Where is the subtlety that made the final scenes of The Office, and to some degree Extras, so great?

There are two things that do save Life on the Road to some degree. The first, and most important, Gervais's portrayal of Brent. The way he slips into the character so naturally does help you to overlook much of the mediocre writing and still find a good few laughs. The second is the fact that the songs, despite the (intentional) terrible lyrics, are actually quite catchy.

In the end Life on the Road is probably a movie that wasn't really needed but it could have been a lot worse.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
3
RalfbergsFeb 14, 2017
I don't know, the only thing funny here were the songs, but actual jokes in the movie were so few. Maybe if you were a big Office UK fan, then it will be great for you, but I think this movie was pretty unfunny as a whole and I actuallyI don't know, the only thing funny here were the songs, but actual jokes in the movie were so few. Maybe if you were a big Office UK fan, then it will be great for you, but I think this movie was pretty unfunny as a whole and I actually really like Gervais and expected lots of fun here.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
8
TokyochuchuFeb 13, 2017
David Brent: Life on the Road was a ton of silly fun. Gervais is still perfect as awkward idiot David Brent and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to enjoy. The climax is a little contrived and can't quite deliver the same payoff asDavid Brent: Life on the Road was a ton of silly fun. Gervais is still perfect as awkward idiot David Brent and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to enjoy. The climax is a little contrived and can't quite deliver the same payoff as the Christmas specials it so obviously apes. But this is still a massive amount of fun for fans of The Office.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
Voodoo123Apr 4, 2023
+Great songs
+Excellent cast
+Decent plot -/+ depressing tone throughout For a comedy based on following an underdogs impossible dream of making it in the music industry, it's surprisingly good. Avoiding most possible cheesy feel good movie+Great songs
+Excellent cast
+Decent plot
-/+ depressing tone throughout

For a comedy based on following an underdogs impossible dream of making it in the music industry, it's surprisingly good. Avoiding most possible cheesy feel good movie plot tropes, it instead takes the path of utter cringe and depression displaying the vulnerability of David's man child persona in the most awkward ways. It was very entertaining! And the songs are easily as good as tenacious d etc. Fantastic.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
92rossSep 6, 2021
A masterpiece. Ricky Gervais makes me laugh so hard I cry. A lot of people won't love this or even like it and I feel genuinely sorry for them.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
Rebecca31Feb 11, 2017
The guy you love to hate is back, David Brent now a "rockstar" on tour with his band. The characters are real and well written, the music is good with some of the weirdest lyrics you'll ever hear. It's cringy and awkward but more importantlyThe guy you love to hate is back, David Brent now a "rockstar" on tour with his band. The characters are real and well written, the music is good with some of the weirdest lyrics you'll ever hear. It's cringy and awkward but more importantly it's funny, very funny. Recommended for fans of the UK Office.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
KaptenVideoSep 2, 2017
David Brent, the (anti)hero of BBC’s legendary comedy series „The Office“ is back again, with a proper feature-length movie for the first time, distributed in most of the world as Netflix Original.
It’s written and directed by Ricky GervaisDavid Brent, the (anti)hero of BBC’s legendary comedy series „The Office“ is back again, with a proper feature-length movie for the first time, distributed in most of the world as Netflix Original.
It’s written and directed by Ricky Gervais who pulls no punches humiliating his famous character further, who's still on his road to fame as a singer.
Gervais has also written and performed a bunch of songs for Brent, and although they are supposed to be horrible (aren’t they?), I actually liked all of them. Some are pretty memorable even outside the context of the movie.
But man oh man, is this a difficult watch or what, even if you are used to (British) comedies which always try to mete out as much disgrace to their main characters as possible.
Of course, Gervais has always been very fond of that but „Life on the Road“ feels like new high or something – or new low if you please.
Watching it gets as difficult as comedies can be… probably. Brent’s life is so painfully awkward that you just gotta feel for the poor guy. At the same time, Gervais has figured out exactly how to make him so untolerable and socially graceless that you wouldn’t want to be in the same room with someone like Brent, especially in work environment.
I know creating this kind of tension is the whole point here, but it just depressed the hell out of me. In its own right, it is well done but hardly recommendable for anybody outside the Gervais die-hard fans circle.
If you would like to know what Brent did after „The Office“ and how did he fare as a rock star, then you’ll just have to check this out. For others, it may be interesting as (yet another) excursion into the mind of acerbic comedy mastermind Ricky Gervais. Just prepared that you’ll feel low afterwards.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
RidgeamordeFeb 13, 2017
I re-watched The Office in preparation for this movie, and I must say it sadly falls short. The music isn't as funny as someone like Flight of Conchords, and David Brent isn't as funny as he was on The Office. There was so much potential forI re-watched The Office in preparation for this movie, and I must say it sadly falls short. The music isn't as funny as someone like Flight of Conchords, and David Brent isn't as funny as he was on The Office. There was so much potential for character development and some good humour, but the whole thing falls flat on its face. Overall, a waste of a good opportunity, but still worth a watch if you are a fan of The Office U.K. and you like Ricky Gervais.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
amheretojudgeFeb 16, 2018
that's what i do..

David Brent: Life On The Road The character has a lot to offer since it just doesn't pick up where it was left off, Ricky Gervais accounts in those 15 years on screen by not only writing but playing it more mature andthat's what i do..

David Brent: Life On The Road

The character has a lot to offer since it just doesn't pick up where it was left off, Ricky Gervais accounts in those 15 years on screen by not only writing but playing it more mature and strong like never before. David Brent: Life On The Road is like a montage to the character but projecting in the most non-ordinary way and checks off each and every tale emerging from his mind. Ricky Gervais whispers innocence despite of whatever he may be speaking about and keeps it clean and crystal clear when it comes to act out pain and intense sequences. David Brent: Life On The Road is depressing, cruel and makes you wanna root and hope betterment for the protagonist despite of its eerie deeds making it more human than ever and also in the end Ricky waves to the character offering hope and goodwill.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

54 Critic Reviews

7.2 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 71 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL