Ricky Gervais writes, directs and co-stars in his very first Netflix original movie Special Correspondents. Cast your minds back to Comic Relief 2007, Gervais did a sketch that saw him fake a heartfelt visit to Africa with the use of actors and green screen.
The core of that idea is essentially what Special Correspondents is all about, Gervais and Eric Bana play two journalists who fake a series of reports from war ravaged Ecuador. Their plan backfires when they are listed as missing in action and become celebrities following numerous TV appeals. Now, the two fakes have to journey to Ecuador for real or face a life behind bars.
If you’re looking for a big broad comedy with crowd pleasing laughs, then you might be disappointed. However, if you like satirical comedies like Wag the Dog then this could be the movie for you. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Gervias’ Derek, his heart was in the right place, but he lacked the acting chops to do his material the justice it deserved.
The prospect of an off the chain Gervias is appealing, Netflix put their trust in the filmmakers and even though they let Adam Sandler make The Ridiculous Six you can’t fault their no interference policy.
Starring alongside Gervais and Bana are Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald and America Ferrera, Special Correspondents will be available for streaming on April 29.
‘Special Correspondents’, a new Netflix original feature film, was written and directed by Ricky Gervais and stars Eric Bana (Deliver Us From Evil, Lone Survivor) and Gervais (Muppets Most Wanted, Derek). The film is about a struggling New York based radio journalist whose arrogance and decadent lifestyle has hindered his career. With his job on the line, he fakes front line war reports from the comfort of his hideout above a Spanish restaurant in Queens.
