Based around the town of Reading in the 70's, Freddie (played by Christian Cooke) doesn't want to grow up like his dad Len (Gervais) working in a metal works factory. Freddie has 2 mates, Snork (Jack Doolan) and Bruce (Tom Hughes). Snork thinks he's a gift to girls but he's a bit of a nurd and Bruce is kinda a hot headed rebel who gets Freddie into all sorts of trouble.

Freddie joins a growing Insurance Company [ironically Cementry Junction in the 80's was the home to most of the Insurance HQ's] as a door to door sales person. In effect the company sells insurance on fear and profits by it. The company head is Mr Kendrick {Ralph Fiennes} who's a cold blooded capitalist bordering on misogynist and has clear roles for his wife {Emily Watson} and daughter Julie (Felicity Jones).

Julie and Freddie are old friends but lost contact with each other. Julie's fianc e Mike (Matthew Goode) basically does whatever he's told from Mr Kendrick. Mike, like Mr Kendrick is cold hearted and disrespectful of women, which causes the rift which Freddie can exploit. We then get the typical BBC come Hugh Grant movie of the blatantly obvious love rekindling between Julie and Freddie to a dramatic conclusion.

The story shows of the class and educational divide, the 70's rise of independence and travel by lower social classes and wishing to be something better but not necessarily something that is career related. The movie has a lot of great jokes and like Twin Town, if you happen to know the area you'll find it even funnier.

Gervias doesn't have a huge amount of on-camera time, which I think was a good thing. He plays a Dad who might as well be a younger Alf Garnet. It's well scripted and filmed [so hat off to Gervais for that].

Great for the ladies and there's enough smut to keep the lads amused. It's primarily a romantic comedy drama.