Cemetery Junction

***1/2 – This big screen directorial debut from comic geniuses Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant was somewhat disappointing in that they didn’t also star in it, but it was still pretty entertaining, albeit somewhat formulaic. Ricky had a relatively small part – which was extremely funny – and Steve had a very brief cameo which was pretty good, but other than that the movie had to be carried by the weight of a mostly newbie cast (plus Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson) and Ricky and Steve’s writing skills. Luckily, everyone pulls it off rather well, despite the fact that, in essence, this film is little more than a run-of-the-mill coming-of-age story set in Reading instead of somewhere in the States like they usually are. It is surprisingly well directed, though, by the pair whose only previous directing experience has been their two not exactly artful TV series. Additional marks go to this one for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from Karl Pilkington and also fairly major roles for two of “Extras” best guest stars (the dullard from season 1 and the guy at the pub who is obsessed with “When the Wind Blows” from season 2).