GERVAIS. Big life lessons learned. RUBEN V. NEPALES
LOS ANGELES—Ricky Gervais recently revealed more details about his “The Office” spinoff movie—but, first, let us share his thoughts on the passing of Robin Williams: “I was shocked and more affected than most. Not because I knew him, but because he was just lovely. Unbelievable. He was always trying to make people happy.”
Wearing a V-necked tee and jeans, Ricky then talked about “Life on the Road,” a movie where he reprises his David Brent role in “The Office,” the hit UK TV series that he cocreated.
“It’s a documentary about David Brent and what he is doing now,” said the 53-year-old comedian of his office pest character’s incarnation on the big screen. “He’s now a rep selling cleaning products. But, he hasn’t let the idea of being a pop star go, and puts up a band with session musicians.
“He puts a tour together because he wants a record company to come along, and he thinks he’s going to be signed,” Ricky added. “He thinks it’s like Martin Scorsese following the Stones around. But, it turns out to be a ‘Where Are They Now?’ show, because he was one of the first reality TV stars. So, it’s just not what he expected.” Sounds like Ricky’s real-life persona as half of the 1980s pop duo, Seona Dancing, which scored one hit, “More to Lose”…in the Philippines.
To be shot as a mockumentary a la “The Office,” “Life on the Road” will be a dig at the reality-TV craze. Ricky said of the BBC Films project: “It’s another parable that warns about fame and thinking that letting cameras into your house will sort your life out. It has gotten worse since ‘The Office,’ which was a show about comedy, fame and ordinary people getting their 15 minutes (of fame).
The British wit said of his delusional character, David, whom we will see 15 years after he left the paper company, Wernham Hogg, “I suppose the reason we are laughing at David Brent is because of his blind spot. It’s the difference in how he sees himself and how the rest of the world sees him. We find that funny. He’s pretentious. He’s got a big ego, and we laugh at him.”
Ricky currently tackles the title role in Netflix’s “Derek,” a kind, quirky and goofy helper in a nursing home. Also shot mockumentary style, “Derek” is inspired by the stories of members of Ricky’s family who work in care homes.
Asked to comment on the seemingly kinder “Derek” as a bit of change from Ricky’s noted biting, acerbic humor, the writer-actor replied, “I don’t know if it’s a life change. You just do different things. Comedy is not usually associated with sincerity. It’s the opposite, particularly the last 15 years with me. I have done things that are slightly biting and in a satirical way.”
“This was special,” he continued. “You can see that it’s cut from the same cloth. There’s still excruciating social faux pas. It’s a fake documentary. There are idiots, funny people, sensible people and all that. But, the subject matter and the central character demand a bit more sincerity.”
“But, I might go back to something like ‘Extras,’ ” pointed the actor, referring to the TV series, where he portrayed wannabe actor Andy Millman, which satirized contemporary society. “And I am bringing David Brent back for a movie, so it’s not like I have been body-snatched by the angel of Mother Teresa. I’m still me. I am experimenting with different things, that’s all.”
Still, “Derek” has tender scenes that move viewers to tears, not laughter. The impact probably comes from the fact that the show’s stories are culled from real-life anecdotes from Ricky’s family members.
He stressed, however, that his family members working in care homes don’t exactly come knocking at his door to offer stories. “They are not rushing to be on the telly—far from it. When I go home, nobody talks about being famous. We talk about their kids and things on television.”
Ricky, who returns as Dr. McPhee in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” admitted to a few realizations as he gets older. “I was an idiot growing up. I was arrogant. I thought, because I was clever, I would just do my thing. Then, writing ‘The Office’ taught me a big life lesson, and that was, trying your hardest is your own reward. It was probably the first thing I had ever tried my hardest at.”
E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow twitter.com/nepalesruben.