David Brent: Life on the Road Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A middle-aged paper salesman quits his job to become a rock star, proving that delusions of grandeur are best served with awkward dance moves and terrible lyrics.

🍿 David Brent: Life on the Road: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Revisiting David Brent

Thirteen years after the BBC documentary ‘The Office,’ a film crew catches up with David Brent. He’s still working as a sales rep, now for a cleaning-goods distributor called Lavichem in Slough. Brent remains as deluded and socially awkward as ever, convinced he’s a natural entertainer.

Brent’s Musical Ambitions

Brent hasn’t given up on his dream of rock stardom. He’s assembled a band of session musicians, ‘Foregone Conclusion,’ whom he pays out of pocket. He also brings along Dom Johnson, a talented rapper, hoping to add some ‘street cred’ to the group. Brent cashes in his pensions to finance a tour around the Berkshire area.

The Tour

The tour is largely a disaster. Few people show up to the gigs, and Brent’s bandmates barely tolerate him, motivated solely by the paycheck. His songs, though earnestly performed, are often tone-deaf and politically incorrect, causing considerable cringe. Brent struggles to connect with his band, eventually having to pay them extra for after-show drinks.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• David Brent (Ricky Gervais): The delusional and awkward cleaning-goods salesman who dreams of rock stardom and embarks on a self-financed tour.
• Serena Wilson (Abbie Murphy): David’s sympathetic coworker who shows genuine interest in his life and music.
• Karen Parashar (Mandeep Dhillon): A receptionist at David’s workplace, serving as one of the interviewees for the documentary on David’s tour.
• Dom Johnson (Ben Bailey Smith): A talented rapper hired by David for his tour, who tries to balance his own career with Brent’s antics.
• Pauline Gray (Jo Hartley): A kind coworker of David’s, who supports his dream and becomes closer to him during his tour.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• David Brent: “Life’s a struggle, with little beautiful surprises that make you wanna carry on through all the shit.” – Brent expresses his perspective on life, acknowledging its difficulties while appreciating small joys.
• David Brent: “Equality Street, that’s where we need to be.” – From a song, and represents Brent’s well-intentioned but often misguided attempts at social commentary.
• David Brent: “I’m a chilled-out entertainer.” – A classic line from ‘The Office’ that encapsulates Brent’s self-image, which is far from reality.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $13,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $35,568
• Worldwide Gross: $5,204,054

💥 David Brent: Life on the Road Reviews

Personal Review

As a big fan of ‘The Office’, I was both excited and nervous about this movie. While it definitely has some hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud, especially the tattoo scene, it also made me feel really sorry for David Brent. The ending was sweet, but I missed the supporting cast from the original series. It’s a good watch, but not quite the same magic.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of The Office (UK)”
  • “Ricky Gervais fans”
  • “Viewers who appreciate cringe comedy”
  • “Mockumentary enthusiasts”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Suggestive humor”
  • “Potentially offensive jokes”
  • “Adult themes”

Professional Reviews

• The Guardian: “Gervais delivers the cringe-worthy awkwardness we expect, but the film occasionally veers into unexpected emotional territory, making it a surprisingly heartfelt, if uneven, ride.
• Empire Magazine: “Life on the Road finds laughs in Brent’s obliviousness, but it’s the moments of genuine vulnerability that resonate most. A welcome, if flawed, return for the beloved character.
• Variety: “It’s funny when Brent is out on tour with his band. Gervais wrote, directed and starred in this film so he makes the film feel like a one-man show far too often. He doesn’t allow the characters much room to develop.

Audience Reactions

The songs are surprisingly catchy and funny, even if they are intentionally awkward.: Viewers enjoyed the music and cringe comedy but found some scenes uncomfortable.

Gervais really makes you feel for David, seeing his more vulnerable side.: Those who loved ‘The Office’ found this a worthy follow-up, despite its flaws.

Overall Consensus: A decent, if uneven, follow-up to ‘The Office,’ filled with cringe comedy and surprisingly heartfelt moments, though some found it too depressing and lacking the charm of the original.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Many scenes featured improv, such as the scene between David and the waitress, with Doc Brown hiding his face in his hoodie to conceal his laughter.”
• “Ricky Gervais wrote all the songs performed in the movie and released them as a genuine album under the David Brent moniker.”
• “The film continues the mockumentary style of ‘The Office,’ using a documentary film crew to follow David Brent’s life and exploits.”

🖥️ How to Watch David Brent: Life on the Road?

David Brent: Life on the Road is available to rent or buy on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for cable availability. Unfortunately as of now, the movie is not available on subscription based streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed David Brent: Life on the Road, you might like these similar films:

• This Is Spinal Tap (1984): Both are mockumentaries following a band’s disastrous tour, highlighting the absurdity of the music industry.
• The Office (U.K. TV Series) (2001-2003): This film is a continuation of David Brent’s story, maintaining the same cringe comedy and mockumentary style.
• Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013): Another British comedy featuring a delusional character who struggles with fame and relevance.

🛒 David Brent: Life on the Road Related Products

• David Brent: Life on the Road [Blu-ray]: Own the complete movie and experience David Brent’s hilarious journey as a rock star on Blu-ray. Includes bonus features and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Life on the Road CD: Own the album, with David Brent classics such as ‘Equality Street’, and ‘Lady Gypsy’.
• David Brent Mug: Enjoy your daily coffee with a David Brent mug. A must-have for fans.
• David Brent T-Shirt: Represent David Brent

🎧 Soundtrack

David Brent: Life on the Road features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Lady Gypsy” – performed by David Brent & Foregone Conclusion
• “Equality Street” – performed by David Brent & Foregone Conclusion
• “Slough” – performed by David Brent & Foregone Conclusion
• “Native American” – performed by David Brent & Foregone Conclusion

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Ricky Gervais Performs as David Brent: “Slough” – Jim Norton & Sam Roberts

Want to see David Brent in action? Ricky Gervais nails the “Slough” performance on Jim and Sam’s show! It’s a hilarious, cringe-worthy glimpse into Brent’s musical soul… you won’t be able to look away.

Sausage Party Joins Forces with Ricky Gervais’ David Brent: Life on the Road

Ever wonder how a David Brent movie gets promoted? This clip from Jimmy Fallon is hilarious as Ricky Gervais recounts examples of his Netflix special being promoted with Sausage Party. It’s a little bit dirty, but all the more fun for it!

Ricky Gervais on the return of David Brent – The Graham Norton Show: Series 19 – BBC

Curious about what inspired the return of David Brent? Ricky Gervais spills the beans on The Graham Norton Show! He dives into Brent’s character and his own pop-career, it’s fascinating to hear his thought process.

DAVID BRENT | World Premiere | Live Performance.

Ever wondered what it was like at the world premiere of David Brent: Life on the Road? This video gives you a front-row seat to some amazing live performances by Ricky Gervais and his band. Experience the Brent-mania!

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