On 3rd September Cemetery Junction is released on DVD. Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais wrote and directed this affectionate look at growing up and out of ‘70s suburbia. Cemetery Junction is a gently funny, if flabby, slice of nostalgia and you can read Jon’s splendid original review here. The DVD is a genuine treat for those who loved the film with both cast and directors commentary, behind the scenes featurettes and a typically Gervaisian blooper reel.
For those approaching Cemetery Junction for the first time: the film does, in many ways, conform to the conventions of a classic coming-of-age story and the young 
cast of relative unknowns do justice to their lead roles. Freddie (Christian Cook) is a bland yet pretty boy next door looking to break out of small town life by making it big in sales. Best friends Snork (Jack Doolan) and Bruce take a more laissez faire approach to breaking out – the former chasing his tail chasing tail and the latter a pouting, brawling, village hall rock star in the making. Bruce has James Dean angst and Mick Jagger insouciance down to a fine art and Tom Hughes’ mesmerising performance captures every slouch and swagger beautifully. Perhaps a little too good for the material he had to work with, I have no doubt that Mr Hughes will move on to bigger and better things in the years to come.
Remi Adefarasin’s lovely cinematography is another real highlight. The talent of The Pacific’s DP conjured a wistful tone of times gone by which prevented Cemetery Junction’s retro style crossing the line into cheap sentimentality. It is a pity the same cannot be said for the script.
In their performances Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson eloquently tell of the heartbreak and dispassionate cruelty hidden behind the careful smiles in a loveless marriage. As the parents of Freddie’s love interest Julie, they offer him a frightening glimpse into a stagnant future. But fragility and nuance are not really Ricky Gervais’ strong suits and any delicacy at play here is soon stomped underfoot by the Cuban heeled crassness of the writing. Alf Garnett one-liners and My Guy photo-story-fast romance undermine any hope Cemetery Junction has of telling a deeper, darker story.
I struggle with Ricky Gervais, his persona and his craft, because I suspect he has difficulty allowing others the room to shine. It is 
entirely possible that Stephen Merchant is an equally crass and clumsy writer but somehow I think not. I hear Ricky’s voice sneer and snigger out of the mouths of his actors when they shape his lines and I flinch. At the Q&A for the DVD release both Stephen and Ricky spoke to us at length about their cinematic inspirations for the film and I do believe there were good intentions here. It is such a pity they didn’t all make it onto the screen.
The boys of Cemetery Junction are doing their best to grow up and break out. I suggest it is time Mr Gervais did the same.
