Name: Ricky Gervais Meets... Garry Shandling
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2006-12-26
Duration: 50 min
Rating: 6.9
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Garry Shandling

Worth seeing because Shandling is very smart and funny but also because he doesn't allow Gervais to be the show in the way the latter often can be

Ricky Gervais has had one of the most successful and highest selling BBC comedies ever with The Office and with Extras was able to engage Hollywood stars not normally found on television. However he has turned down Hollywood roles and million dollar endorsements so how does he benefit from his success? He meets his idols  on this occasion Garry Shandling.

After meeting Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais goes back to LA to meet up with Shandling and during the interview he declares that he is not a real interviewer. He says this but then annoyingly continues to make himself the centre of the film rather than using restraint and working with Shandling. This has been a common problem with all of the "Meets" films is that Gervais has to say whatever comes to his mind. With Larry David it seemed to work because that suited David, whereas with Guest it didn't quite work because he wasn't like this. With Shandling it is immediately evident that this approach won't work with Shandling because he's not really having any of it.

And it is tremendous to see Gervais put on the back foot for the majority of the film. For some reason Gervais doesn't quite get it and gradually gets his confidence back and starts blurting things out but it doesn't seem to phase Shandling. So for the most part then this "Meets" is better than the first two because Shandling does not allow Gervais to dominate him and it is much better for it. It helps that he is a difficult person to interview and makes it clear that he won't be making it an easy ride. He can be funny as a result but when he is given room his chat is actually pretty good with plenty of personal insight and comment into his work. Keeping Gervais down also stops it becoming a love-in as some of the other films do, although it does get a bit like that here and there.

Overall then this is actually a pretty interesting and funny chat. There is no chemistry between the two men but the controlling patience and difficult nature of Shandling puts Gervais on the back foot and sees him sit back and allow Shandling to flow (for a while, then he forgets again). Worth seeing because Shandling is very smart and funny but also because he doesn't allow Gervais to be the show in the way the latter often can be.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Ricky Gervais Meets... Garry Shandling (2006)

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Ricky Gervais Meets... Christopher Guest (2006)

Ricky Gervais and Ben Bailey Smith in David Brent: Life on the Road (2016)

Eric Bana and Ricky Gervais in Special Correspondents (2016)

Warwick Davis and Ricky Gervais in Life's Too Short (2011)

Ricky Gervais in Meet Ricky Gervais (2000)

Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington in Learn English with Ricky Gervais (2012)

Ricky Gervais Meets... Larry David (2006)

Ricky Gervais: Out of England - The Stand-Up Special

Ricky Gervais: Out of England - The Stand-Up Special (2008)

Ricky Gervais Meets... Garry Shandling

Photos

Top Cast2

User reviews5

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed