Kerry Godliman
- 51 years old
- English
- Actor and stand-up comedian
Press clippings Page 7
After Life is the latest offering from Ricky Gervais, where he plays widower Tony, a man corroded by grief (staying alive only to feed his dog) who decides to be as obnoxious as he likes and then kill himself, behaviour that he thinks is "like a superpower."
The cast includes Penelope Wilton as a widow, Diane Morgan as Tony's gobby co-worker, and Paul Kaye as a self-satisfied therapist. Apart from videos left by Tony's late wife (a touching Kerry Godliman), the heart is mainly provided by Ashley Jensen as a care-home worker looking after Tony's dad (David Bradley), and Mandeep Dhillon's rookie journalist at the local newspaper where Tony works.
The problem is the wildly swerving tone - from obnoxious to sentimental to caustic to maudlin to pointlessly vile. At one point Tony helps a junkie (Tim Plester) buy enough drugs to kill himself. Ho and ho. This just won't cut it as edgy comedy in the era of Succession, Russian Doll and so much more. After Life worked better during the running joke featuring Tony covering hopeless local stories, such as a boy playing recorders with his nostrils: "Why would people rather be famous for being shit than not famous at all?" This is Gervais's true superpower - as a carping, eye-rolling everyman.
Barbara Ellen, The Observer, 17th March 2019TV review: After Life
Ricky Gervais has completely shaken up our perceptions of what he is capable of with his latest series After Life, showing how this comic can do heart-breaking as well as hilarious.
Becca Moody, Moody Comedy, 17th March 2019Kerry Godliman interview
As Ricky Gervais's new comedy tackles grieving is there anything left we can't laugh about?
Keith Watson, Metro, 12th March 2019Review: After Life
Followers of Ricky Gervais's work will spot elements form across the CV in his new Netflix series.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 9th March 2019After Life Netflix review
Ricky Gervais delivers a hilarious and harrowing story.
Callum Crumlish, The Daily Express, 8th March 2019After Life review
Ricky Gervais' touching look at grief and the people left behind.
Jo-Anne Rowney, The Mirror, 8th March 2019After Life, Netflix, review
Gervais' character is the embodiment of socially awkward misanthropy, but also a believable portrait of a man consumed by grief.
Jeff Robson, i Newspaper, 8th March 2019Review: Gervais gets spiny & squishy in After Life
Like its snarky hero, After Life is essentially good-hearted.
Robert Lloyd, LA Times, 8th March 20198 Out Of 10 Cats returns to E4
After a break of nearly two years, 8 Out Of 10 Cats is due to return to E4. Jimmy Carr and Rob Beckett will be joined by guest captains.
British Comedy Guide, 7th March 2019Review: After Life, Netflix
What is the new six-part Netflix series from Ricky Gervais? After Life is certainly funny but it is no sitcom. There is too much going on here that isn't funny to file it snugly under that genre. It's not that safety net catch-all "comedy drama" either though. It's something totally unique. And it deserves a category of its own.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 7th March 2019