That's got to be a bit of a blow to Gervais' ego. Even TV show adaptions to film Alan Partridge and the recent Ab Fab made more on opening weekend.
As a big fan of The Office, I've devoured lots of behind-the-scenes material and plenty of cast interviews from back when the show was wrapping up. Over and over, it is mainly Gervais saying that if he ever brought Brent or The Office back, it would be sad and pathetic. Seems like the public mostly agrees.
Totally dumbfounded by it myself tbh. Must have only been about ten in the cinema at most when i seen it. And yet david brent was a very popular character. The office had huge dvd sales etc. At one point it must have been gervais most asked question. If he would bring brent back.
Not only that its actually a decent and believable continuation of brent. Personally thought the film was brilliant but cant get my head round the lack of buzz over it.
Maybe he left it too late to bring him back. Or maybe ricky has lost a lot of fans over the years. He kind of has alienated himself a bit with how he presents himself. Personally think people dont get him...he always has made himself look bad on screen weather it was the meet ricky gervais show back in the day or how he treats karl or even the golden globes awards etc. It is an act to an extent. Hes actually in control of production nowadays and yet still makes himself look bad. People have got to ask themselves why he does it.
Its also like he doesnt want to look like a sell out of sorts like instead of jumping on the gravy train which he easily could have after the office sucess he kind of still wanted to be abrasive to pretty much everyone.
I think he needs to reign that side of him in tbh. The david brent movie should have been a big occasion with massive fanfair imo. Brent as a character deserved it.
Ricky himself probably does as well. Not for money or more fame etc. But because his work is still very good.
Just to add i dont really get the must be desperate to bring him back or a bit sad etc. I think rickys real reason for bringing him back was the whole rock star thing. He enjoys it all. It gave him a chance to perform which he seems to love he was a failed artist afterall.
Nothing more than that. Dont agree it was a cash grab. After 15 years i think hes fully entitled to bring one of his characters back when you consider he finished it after 2 series and brent was a pretty big hit. If its one thing gervais isnt guilty of is milking it. Considering
he could have easily continued the office and been paid huge sums for it for years.
Think the poor box office is more to do with poor marketing. Alpha Papa tv spots played during every ad break, on most channels. Plus it had a really funny trailer.
Get the feeling Gervais assumed people would just flock to see Brent, with minimal marketing required.
Quite possible, although Gervais himself was promoting it ad nauseam on Facebook, Twitter and with multiple TV appearances.
shareActually; it's the highest grossing new release in the UK and has taken the same as Alpha Papa so far.
Pretty respectable.
You're comparing it's overall figures to summer blockbuster Dory, so nice try but a fail on your part.
Indeed. As if any film taking on the sequel to Finding Nemo would stand a chance.
shareGood. Gervais needs his ego taking down a peg or two, and this film was not good.
http://zummer.blogspot.co.uk/
Thats what this is all about tho...people wanting to take gervais ego down. The film was great. Didnt matter how brilliant the film was anyway...it was always going to be panned for this reason.
People need to get over it.
All the reasons for the film being terrible are pretty silly tbh.
He got panned for derek being over emotional. Now this ones not emotional enough it seems.
[deleted]
"Didnt matter how brilliant the film was anyway...it was always going to be panned for this reason"
Or maybe it just wasn't very good. The end was abysmal.