Life's Too Short (2011– )

The show centers on Warwick Davis in his day-to-day life, complete with the frustrations he faces.

Creators:

Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Stars:

Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Cast

Series cast summary:
Warwick Davis	...	Warwick Davis (8 episodes, 2011-2013)
Ricky Gervais	...	Ricky Gervais (7 episodes, 2011-2013)
Stephen Merchant	...	Stephen Merchant (7 episodes, 2011-2013)
Rosamund Hanson	...	Cheryl (7 episodes, 2011-2013)
Steve Brody	...	Accountant (6 episodes, 2011-2013)
Jo Enright	...	Sue (5 episodes, 2011-2013)
Shaun Williamson	...	Shaun Williamson (5 episodes, 2011-2013)
Kiruna Stamell	...	Amy (4 episodes, 2011-2013)
Les Dennis	...	Les Dennis (4 episodes, 2011-2013)
Matthew Holness	...	Ian (3 episodes, 2011)
Keith Chegwin	...	Keith Chegwin (3 episodes, 2011-2013)
Peter Bonner	...	Little Pete (3 episodes, 2011-2013)
Sarah Bennett	...	Ebony (3 episodes, 2011-2013)
Colin Hoult	...	Bryan (2 episodes, 2011-2013)
Jon Key	...	Anthony (2 episodes, 2011)
Raymond Griffiths	...	Ray (2 episodes, 2011-2013)
George Appleby	...	Dan (2 episodes, 2011-2013)

Storyline

The show centers on Warwick Davis in his day-to-day life, complete with the frustrations he faces.

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Plot Keywords:

claim in title | actor | actor playing himself | casting agent | casting agency | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Elu on liiga lühike

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Home Box Office (HBO), Backlash Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Conan: The Mime Whisperer (2012)

User Reviews

Warwick Davis as a diluted David Brent-style egomaniac

I love THE OFFICE and am ambivalent towards EXTRAS, so how would I feel about LIFE'S TOO SHORT, Ricky Gervais's latest mockumentary charting the trials and tribulations of dwarf actor Warwick Davis? Having just watched all seven episodes, I'm sorry to say that this is more like EXTRAS than THE OFFICE. It's a predictable series in which the voice, mannerisms and style of David Brent have been ported over entirely to Davis, so that he's in essence a mini-Brent. I love Davis and can't fault his acting, but there's a seen-it-all-before feel to much of the material.

The highlight of each episode is the celebrity cameo, with appearances from both Liam Neeson and Johnny Depp early on really setting the standard. Otherwise, the comedy is fairly nasty and unpleasant, with unlikeable characters interacting with other unlikeable characters and nobody to root for. It's all a bit cynical, and it says something when the best bits are the tiny cameos given to the likes of Shaun Williamson, Keith Chegwin and Les Dennis.

Follow-up: LIFE'S TOO SHORT has concluded with a one-off, hour-long 2013 special which finalises the story. Bizarrely, Davis has an entirely different character now; bored with his previous unpleasant character, he's a reformed guy. Once you get over that, the special is much better than the TV show, wisely focusing on supporting characters (Val Kilmer, Keith Chegwin, Les Dennis & Shaun Williamson) who really zing and supply plenty of genuinely funny comic material. It's a shame that the rest of the show wasn't of the same calibre...