The Office immerses us in the ordinary daily life of a paper company, with its share of drama, laughter, awkward situations and beautiful memories. The British series, created in 2001 by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, has been exported everywhere: to Germany, Quebec, France (Le Bureau, with the exception of Francois Berlean), especially in the United States, where its popularity exceeds popularity. The original version and away!
This comedy takes a mockingwhere Documentary In french. This exercise in style consists of a parody of everything that characterizes documentary, from the physical presence of the cameramen to the on-camera confessions of speakers, here the employees of the Wernham-Hogg Paper Company and their boss David Brent (Ricky Gervais). ).
Although The Office UK recently joined its US version with Steve Carell on Prime Video, we’re interested in the differences and similarities between the two series.
The remake is 10 times longer than the original
In terms of duration, the difference is huge: the adventures of the Wernham-Hogg employees lasted 2 seasons, with 14 30-minute episodes and 2 specials, while the American group Dunder Mifflin delighted viewers with its 200 20-minute episodes. Includes 9 seasons.
This exceptional lifespan allowed the American version to delve deeper into the characters and their relationships and bring the stories to a more personal terrain, even delving into the intimacy and personal lives of the protagonists.
More Ricky Gervais or Steve Carell?
In terms of characters, the archetypes are similar for both versions, with some differences to note. For example, Ricky Gervais, who plays the boss in the original series, can be described as pathetic and annoying. Michael Scott, played by the invincible Steve Carell, is more of a nerd who remains very likable, his character having developed significantly in that direction since the first few episodes.
Whatever your choice, one thing’s for sure: the two managers would get along perfectly, as evidenced by Ricky Gervais’s cameo in Season 7 of American Reruns, crossing the two worlds on the anthology stage!
Among the most beautiful romances of the small screen, the one experienced by Jim and Pam in The Office US is a benchmark. The two lovers are played by John Krasinski (Jack Ryan, Quietly) and Jenna Fisher, respectively. Their British counterparts, Don and Tim, see their relationship take a completely different direction. They bring Lucy Davis and Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit) to the screen in one of their first roles.
Finally, how can you miss Dwight, the ambitious bootlicker played by Rainn Wilson in the US, a rather toned-down version of Garrett’s original character in The Office UK. The latter, perfectly played by Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean), is a real psychopath obsessed with the army and its discipline.
The main difference between the two series remains the tone and humor adopted. Focused both on the staging of inappropriate situations and the discomfort caused by the office boss, the original version takes on that inimitable British phlegm, a far more no-nonsense tone and an unaltered realism.
On the other side of the Atlantic, adaptations for wider audiences and diverse sensibilities offer a less trivial but equally entertaining version. With a crazy, sometimes surreal aspect, The Office US presents situations both unbelievable and hilarious.
So, more Dunder Mifflin, Wernham-Hogg, or both? You don’t have to choose, the full The Office UK and US is available on Prime Video!
Source: allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
