The Invention of Lying - the first directorial effort from Ricky Gervais - was a critical and commercial flop, a disappointment partly attributable to a screenplay that needed at least a couple more journeys through the word processor. For his second effort, Gervais has wisely taken on both screenwriting and directing duties alongside his long-time collaborator (and co-creator of The Office) Stephen Merchant. Set in a nicely re-created Reading of the 1970s, it features a trio of young friends (played by relative unknowns Christian Cooke, Tom Hughes and Jack Doolan) all on the brink of their first jobs (selling door-to-door insurance), first loves and, at some point, preferably getting the hell out of town. The result is a slickly charming, sweet-natured English take on American coming-of-age movies like American Graffiti. It's deftly written, unobtrusively directed and nicely acted, indicating Gervais (along with Merchant) does have a future as a film director after all.

In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls. Freddie wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce and lovable loser Snork are happy with life the way it is. When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie, the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives for ever.