Starter for 10 (B or 3/4 stars)
Life stinks for a while for Brian Jackson (James McAvoy) in 'Starter for 10' is a dramedy directed by Tom Vaughn. Set at Bristol University, 1985, this story chronicles the tame missteps that hound Brian as he tries to juggle girlfriend(s), old pals, the trials of college life, and making it big on a jeopardy-like television quiz show. The material within the 'sort of' romance, 'sort of' coming-of-age story feels fairly familiar. But it's mellow charm, great soundtrack, supporting characters, & lead performance by James McAvoy makes for an unchallenging, breezy movie experience.
Obsessed with collecting general knowledge, Brian has been a fan of 'University Challenge' since he watched it with his dad at age 8. Dad dies, and he's able to scrounge up enough $$ and intelligence to gain entry into Bristol. After meeting his cross-dressing dorm mates, he heads off to a party and meets a bold campus radical, Rebecca (Rebecca Hall, of The Prestige). They become fast friends, but it's Alice (a cute Alice Eve) who initially catches his romantic eye. Furthermore, Brian has to learn to settle-in to his new elitist lifestyle, while not forgetting to appreciate his working-class family & friends, as well. Coming in to college with an idea to get straight A's, Brian is swept up in college-life mania. Studies & trivia take a temporary back seat to booze & desperate female problems.
Through all of this, he actually 'does' make the 4-person university quiz team, consisting of Alice, Lucy, & Patrick (a very funny Benedict Cumberbatch, of Amazing Grace). Will he make his deceased dad proud by earning success on the nationwide game show? Will he end up with the flirtatious Alice? Or does he prefer the left-leaning, Rebecca? He fouled-up a romantic moment with her once. Will she ever accept any further advances from him again?
This film works on several levels: 1) it's written with hilarious moments of sheer wit. 2) The actors seem fairly uninhibited in their type-cast roles. 3) We understand all the bad decisions that Brian makes because we, too, were once 18 yrs. old in our first year at college. 4) A steady soundtrack of great 80's hits from bands such as Wham!, The Cure, & Tears for Fears, keeps us engaged throughout the story. 5) The romance involving Brian & {insert who he winds up with} offers good 'intelligent-teens' chemistry. 6) Rebecca Hall is great as the nerdy, funny girl who you'd be grateful for having as your 1st friend on campus. 7) James McAvoy has now been in 4 movies that I've really liked; and I like them even more because of his performance(s).
'Sf10' is just an enjoyable, well-observed British coming-of-age story ... no more, no less. The plot is formulaic, almost cliched, but the talented cast, music, & iconic 80's pop culture references keeps 'Starter for 10' fairly fresh. You won't be amazed by this film, but I'd hardly think you'd dislike it, either. At worst, it's occasionally bland, conventional, and slight-of-plot. At best, it's cute, smart, and endearing (look out for an emotional scene where Brian & Alice are on their 1st date). I did not go into 'Starter for 10' looking for a masterpiece. I looked to be charmed by a small youth picture with a big heart ... and I was.
Obsessed with collecting general knowledge, Brian has been a fan of 'University Challenge' since he watched it with his dad at age 8. Dad dies, and he's able to scrounge up enough $$ and intelligence to gain entry into Bristol. After meeting his cross-dressing dorm mates, he heads off to a party and meets a bold campus radical, Rebecca (Rebecca Hall, of The Prestige). They become fast friends, but it's Alice (a cute Alice Eve) who initially catches his romantic eye. Furthermore, Brian has to learn to settle-in to his new elitist lifestyle, while not forgetting to appreciate his working-class family & friends, as well. Coming in to college with an idea to get straight A's, Brian is swept up in college-life mania. Studies & trivia take a temporary back seat to booze & desperate female problems.
Through all of this, he actually 'does' make the 4-person university quiz team, consisting of Alice, Lucy, & Patrick (a very funny Benedict Cumberbatch, of Amazing Grace). Will he make his deceased dad proud by earning success on the nationwide game show? Will he end up with the flirtatious Alice? Or does he prefer the left-leaning, Rebecca? He fouled-up a romantic moment with her once. Will she ever accept any further advances from him again?
This film works on several levels: 1) it's written with hilarious moments of sheer wit. 2) The actors seem fairly uninhibited in their type-cast roles. 3) We understand all the bad decisions that Brian makes because we, too, were once 18 yrs. old in our first year at college. 4) A steady soundtrack of great 80's hits from bands such as Wham!, The Cure, & Tears for Fears, keeps us engaged throughout the story. 5) The romance involving Brian & {insert who he winds up with} offers good 'intelligent-teens' chemistry. 6) Rebecca Hall is great as the nerdy, funny girl who you'd be grateful for having as your 1st friend on campus. 7) James McAvoy has now been in 4 movies that I've really liked; and I like them even more because of his performance(s).
'Sf10' is just an enjoyable, well-observed British coming-of-age story ... no more, no less. The plot is formulaic, almost cliched, but the talented cast, music, & iconic 80's pop culture references keeps 'Starter for 10' fairly fresh. You won't be amazed by this film, but I'd hardly think you'd dislike it, either. At worst, it's occasionally bland, conventional, and slight-of-plot. At best, it's cute, smart, and endearing (look out for an emotional scene where Brian & Alice are on their 1st date). I did not go into 'Starter for 10' looking for a masterpiece. I looked to be charmed by a small youth picture with a big heart ... and I was.