Quote: 4Name SirName @ November 18 2011, 2:04 PM GMTIt's really hard to say this as a massive G&M fan, but the quality of the show is simply not good enough.
I really have no problem with the premise of the show being a Office-cum-Extras style show, as both sitcoms were brilliant. I can even accept some of the Brent-esque mannerisms that Warwick Davis uses, as he would understandably have been playing the scene as Ricky would have directed him. But to have actual straight lifts of Office and Extras material is really disappointing.
Never once did I get feel during Extras that old ground was being copied - the only thing linking The Office and Extras was the class Gervasian humour and great writing/performances.
Here, it feels as is G&M simply didn't take enough time to write believeable scenarios that would have given Life's Too Short an identity of its own.
The secretary not telling Davis about phone calls is far too similar to Merchant's Extras character neglecting to tell Millman stuff. Davis pointing to the camera telling his ex-wife she is showing off because the cameras were there is a staight lift from Brent exchange with his boss in The Office. Davis dressed as a bear and the ensuing awkwardness at the wedding is remarkably similar to David Brent in an ostrich costume and seemed too easy a tool and too predictable a result.
Personally, I don't think the celebrity A-List cameos add anything to the programme whatsoever. Yes Liam Neeson acted his part well (Johnny Depp was poor IMO), but such scenes feel like entirely separate pieces that don't aid the plot at all and would have worked better at stand alone Comic Relief-type sketches. The whole reason for them coming into G&M's office is just too contrived for any believability to kick in. Where as in Extras the scenes were not only justifiable but integral to the series.
Yes there are still some very funny scenes and well written aspects to the show as you'd expect from a G&M product. But the naturalness, pathos, empathy and story-telling is not strong enough to make Life's Too Short a worthwhile project.
One thing that has stood Gervais's work out from the majority of comedy writers is his pride in having a high level of quality control but, sadly, Life's Too Short has diminished the top-rate body of work that Gervais has produced up to now.
Really disappointed.
That is exactly how I would have put it, if I wasn't so livid! All good points, well made! Here Here!