“My time is overdue like a roof on a synagogue”, sings David Brent, in the feature length sequel to the TV mockumentary, The Office, DAVID BRENT: LIFE ON THE ROAD.

The film catches up with Brent twelve years on from The Office to find he is now a travelling salesman with Lavichem, a toilet and tampon company.

He’s still pining for rock stardom and is about to embark on a self-financed UK tour with his band, Foregone Conclusion. Assembling a group of session musicians who are just in it for the dough, not the Do-Re-Mi, and rising rapper Dom, in an attempt to gain street cred, Brent cashes in his savings and superannuation and takes unpaid eave in a bid to turn his dream into reality.

Dream into reality, or, rather, nightmare into faux reality, has been the hallmark calling card of writer director composer star Ricky Gervais, from The Office through to Extras and now DAVID BRENT: LIFE ON THE ROAD.

The arrogance, ignorance and petulance of David Brent has not been tempered in the dozen years. Disappointment and demotion has not dented or downsized his deplorable demeanour, if anything it has devolved.

Beyond the cringe, Gervais has created a tragic, sad and pathetic character and made him the focus of fun and ridicule.

One wonders if DAVID BRENT: LIFE ON THE ROAD is some kind of revenge comedy by Gervais, a theatre of cruelty piece created to crucify his most famous creation.

Taking him from the small screen to the big screen, Gervais amplifies Brent’s obnoxiousness with no trace of the leavening affection present in The Office.

Brent has learned nothing in the intervening years and must be punished for his lack of self awareness, his failure to grow.

The highlights of DAVID BRENT: LIFE ON THE ROAD are the musical numbers, politically incorrect parodies like Please Don’t Make Fun of the Disableds and Equality Street.

At least we can be grateful David Brent is not running for President of the United States!