Film Reviews

Starter For Ten

• Rating:
• Director: Tom Vaughan
• Starring: Dominic Cooper
• Details: UK / 96mins (12A).

"I'm not smart like you. I have to work at it." It's 1985, and working-class student Brian Jackson (McAvoy) leaves his seaside town for his fresher year at Bristol University. It's not long before he meets, and falls for, the stunning Alice (Eve), one of the members of Bristol's University Challenge team. Brian, convinced he's not as smart as everyone else, desperately wants to be on the team to prove himself worthy as a bona fide college student and get into Alice's knickers at the same time. It's not as simple as all that, though, as Brian comes to terms with college life very slowly. Starter For Ten is recommended to anyone who wants to relive their first year in college - perpetually skint, robbing pints, first loves that break your heart, introductions to mind-expanding drugs, fretting over exams, freezing cold flats, etc. (on second thoughts, maybe that's not such a good idea).A nod and a wink to the '80s college comedies and Brat pack movies, this is a lighter-than-light comedy, but there are enough clever one-liners throughout to keep the more cynical entertained, and the politics of the perfect headbutt will keep you laughing for a while. The dialogue is loose enough to give off that 'natural' feel and McAvoy, in his first leading role, looks confident in the role despite his shy, awkward character. It does tend to gloss over certain aspects of college life, though. For example, they give us a lengthy introduction to life on campus - his room, housemates, classes and lecturers - but before we know it, it's Christmas and four months have whizzed by. However, it does also boast a cracking soundtrack with no less that four Cure tunes to tap your feet to during the quieter moments.

Review by Gavin Burke