He's tolerable for me. I like him at awards shows and I enjoyed Extras. But I'm not actively seeking out his other work. I only made it through the first season of the BBC Office so I doubt I'll be checking out the movie.
I like him better when he's working with Stephen Merchant. I feel like they complement each other nicely.
I like Gervais in small doses. I like his views. Haven't seen the UK Office, and that trailer certainly doesn't make me want to.
when the show was airing he said he had never watched the UK version because he didn't want it to interfere with his own character / inadvertently cause him to change to try and be more like Gervais' character and when he left after season 7 he said he would never watch the series because he would overthink his own scenes / how he did things. i'd probably be the same if in his position.
I remember reading that Carell had not seen the UK series when he auditioned but never knew that regarding after he left. I do know Rainn Wilson had seen every episode of the series when he auditioned (originally for Michael Scott)
Yep. That's the UK way, haha. I personally love the UK Office but that's the series I saw first way back when it aired while I was in high school. Tim and Dawn forever.
I've watched all of it twice, before and after watching the US version, and found it annoying and unfunny both times. And not just David Brent's character, but everyone in general.
Also make sure to watch the Christmas special at the end. There are two six episode seasons and then the Christmas special which serves as the series finale.
I'm right at the point when Pam gave birth during season 6, man oh man did I forget how much of a child she acted during this and also when Michael was dating her mom. I remember now when I stopped liking Pam and it was at this point. I don't think she ever comes back around for me.
Taking my time through season 4 and I think I like her best in season 4. I like her quiet, shy character in 1-3, and that's still kind of in place in season 4, but there's also an added layer there I like. I think it was purposefully done, making her more funny / giving her more jokes that are Jim-esque which was likely purposeful since they're in the new relationship. But sometime during 5 or 6 she turns for me too.
I never really turned against Pam or Jim - the impeccable way in which the writers developed them and their relationship in the first three seasons made it too difficult for me to actively dislike them - but they definitely became much more unsympathetic the longer the show went on.
The best of Pam and Jim was right when Jim turned down the offer in NY, that moment when Jim comes back and asks her out to dinner came up during a montage during the buyout episode (banker?) and it still gets me how perfect everything came together. Obviously the writers had a meeting and determined that Pam needs more of a "voice", but that came off as too abrupt since for 4 seasons she was essentially a push over, there was no transformation but rather just a sudden change.
Both Holly and Pam would make a perfect long term partner in the real world if you were men of Jim and Michael's age.