Starter For Ten
Brian Jackson (James McAvoy) is a working-class student from Essex, navigating his first year at Bristol University, who has a lot to prove. While his hometown friends worry about him turning into a stuck-up jerk, Brian’s biggest concern is making the team for the long-running British television quiz show University Challenge. Amidst Tarts & Vicars dances, anti-Apartheid rallies, disgusting dorm rooms and puffs of marijuana smoke, Brian also finds himself romantically torn between two very different co-eds. With Margaret Thatcher’s economically depressed Great Britain as a backdrop and a killer, pitch-perfect New Wave soundtrack in the foreground, Starter For Ten is the greatest British teen 80s movie that never was.
Member Reviews
Charming movie, totally obscure title - mollym
So I saw the movie, and I still can't figure out what the heck the title refers to. It is a sweet little comedy, with a very predictable plot, but the actors all absolutely deliver -- James McAvoy is great, but so are, in particular, his mother and his directionless friends from high school. One of the other things the British movies in this genre (Four Weddings etc.) do a lot better than the American ones is to make something more like real life -- pain, his grief over losing his father very young -- an integral part of the comedy. I think they can do that because the actors are so reliably great. Excellent soundtrack, as noted in the summary, a very watchable romantic comedy.Unexpected fun! - myrheille
I rented this solely for James McAvoy, on whom I have an unabashed crush. One of my friends who also likes him told me it was a story set in high school, so I was pretty sure it was going to be on the boring side, but she must have confused high school with college, and that changes a lot of things.
Anyway, I liked it a lot! The main character was interesting, as was Rebecca (I was rooting for them so much). I also did quizzes like that when I was in high school so it brought back fun memories! I also laughed out loud a couple of times - it has a good balance of romance, comedy and drama. And I even learned how to headbutt somebody. ;) I recommend it!A good little movie - cameraobscura
So this movie might not have the most revolutionary plot in the world. It doesn't. But what it does, it does well. I enjoyed watching this a great deal - it's a nice little flick to throw on when you don't want over the top humour, and you're not in the mood for anything more serious.
The actors are superb - I have yet to see McAvoy in anything where he didn't do the part well, and I think this movie in an odd way really shows his wide range.
Your heart sinks with the characters, it rises with them, and you're happy when things work out.
A good watch for people who enjoy something lighthearted with a touch of emotion, and who have a particular penchant for the British style of humour.
Member Reviews
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Charming movie, totally obscure title - mollym
So I saw the movie, and I still can't figure out what the heck the title refers to. It is a sweet little comedy, with a very predictable plot, but the actors all absolutely deliver -- James McAvoy is great, but so are, in particular, his mother and his directionless ...Unexpected fun! - myrheille
I rented this solely for James McAvoy, on whom I have an unabashed crush. One of my friends who also likes him told me it was a story set in high school, so I was pretty sure it was going to be on the boring side, but she must have confused high school with ...A good little movie - cameraobscura
So this movie might not have the most revolutionary plot in the world. It doesn't. But what it does, it does well. I enjoyed watching this a great deal - it's a nice little flick to throw on when you don't want over the top humour, and you're not in the ...