the audience applauded

Such a frustrating disappointment

Pretty Good

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have a unique talent for finding humor in cruelty - and vice versa. This special feature-length episode of "Extras", which is also by default the series finale, is funny, sad and full of surprises - like life itself. The funniest part is imho the "Guardian" interview; the saddest part is Maggie's new life conditions (she decides to quit the extras "business", becomes a cleaning woman and has to move to an even smaller apartment); and the most surprising part is the variety of the guest stars (equally surprising is the willingness of some of them to be portrayed in a very negative light). Some viewers may feel that this episode dwells too much on misery, especially Maggie's, but usually there will be a gag or a joke to undercut it. The Doctor Who crossover is a nice bonus. *** out of 4.

Before this finale, I loved Extras, but I did not hold it up there with the legendary television programs. I thought it was excellent, but if every show could end with a finale like this the would of television would be a better place.First, let it be said that there is not that much comedy to the finale. Some people might have a problem with this, but anyone invested in the characters will be fine. This is not to say that there is no comedy. Wonderful little gags are placed around the "finale" or basically a made-for-TV-movie more than a finale. And the jokes hit their mark very well. Stephen Merchant, scene-stealer of the entire program, has some great scenes, and the only down part of the finale is that he does not have many scenes in it. I know he is a supporting character, but in my opinion he was the funniest character in the show.But there is little room for Merchant in an episode that spends most of time with Andy and Maggie evaluating their lives. This is the main point of the episode, and I'm not going to give any thing away here, but while many writers over the years have had character tackle this existential question of 'what am i doing with my life?', no one has done it better than these two fellows here. I never thought that a comedy could almost bring me to tears, but this finale did it without feeling like a depressing Oscar story.Job well done. Every time you expect a cliché plot point to pop up and take the story where every story like this usually goes, they go the other way. It's even more sad that this is the end of a great television show, but I guess Gervais and Merchant take quality over quantity to heart.

I've been a long time fan of Ricky and Steve's works over the past decade and was anticipating the Xmas Special for quite a while. We all know it wouldn't have the same emotional and comedic impact as the Office Christmas Specials, but they did very well.At 1hr 25, It's not a minute too long or short. We witness the development , rise and eventual fall of Andy, Maggie and Darren and we empathise. Those of you looking for 85 minutes of non stop gags, you won't find it here. The drama of Maggie's unemployment and Darren's working FULL time in the carphone warehouse are dealt with emotionally and sensitively. But, just like the rest of their work, there is A lot of well observed and well written humour.My personal best moments.1) The Carphone Warehouse Dance. 2) Clive Owen's cameo. 3) Andy in Dr. Who

80 Minutes Special (contains general overview and basic commentary): Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) in the Series Special is at a crossroads in his life and career. The former movie extra turned successful, albeit self-deprecating, TV actor must decide whether to further compromise his artistic integrity and continue shooting his unsophisticated, obnoxious, and lame-demographic television series. The special literally chronicles the ardent behavior that comes with fame, how one becomes affected, and how one can see past fame by putting oneself outside the joke. The most intriguing moments in the episode's entirety are when Ricky Gervais ponders the general state of being in society, in what is as close to an effective "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore"-moment as you're likely ever to get on television. Maggie is as unsinkable as ever and at her best as Millman's closest friend. Written and directed by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the Special manages to touch on issues of philosophy, fame, sexuality, and societal behavior in its story's subtext while not detracting from its impressively diverse story arc. For a show that restores one's faith that modern media can produce original, prodding, yet hilarious material, "Extras" at its end is unwittingly at its best (except maybe for Kate Winslet's performance).