bitten tongue.

For such cynical comedians, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant love schmaltz.  Sometimes it works (The Office Christmas Special may be the most romantic piece of pop art from the last decade); sometimes it doesn’t (The Extras Christmas Special drowns in unwarranted and unwanted syrup).  There’s a lot of syrupy nostalgia and worn-out “coming-of-ageness” in this trailer for the duo’s writing/directing debut, Cemetery Junction.  Judging by the trailer, the guy gets the girl, the friend gets his hand cut off at the mill, and River Phoenix gets run over by a train.

Then again, An Education also has the most shopworn of premises but really works (until the last ten minutes). (via CHUD)