Starter for 10 (**½)
Starring: James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall
Seen: April 27th 2008
**½ Out of ****
This enjoyable film takes us back to the 80’s in Britain, following Brian Jackson (McAvoy), a working class student, as he adapts in his first year at Bristol University. Brian grew up an avid fan of quiz-shows – in particular the “University Challenge”, an annual general knowledge competition between universities.
Because of his intense interest in the show, Brian himself has become a sort of a general knowledge guru, and he signs up to the quiz team in short order, but with this motive not being the only one. Alice, a beautiful blonde that Brian falls almost instantly in love with, is also on the team, and thus Brian follows, not fully aware of Alice’s colourful sexual past (and present).
One evening at a dorm party Brian also meets Rebecca (Hall), and they strike up quite the friendship. What Brian does not realise, even though it becomes glaringly obvious, is that he and Rebecca actually have great chemistry together. Brian continues to pursue Alice, even though the chemistry with her is sorely lacking, and this plainly unsettles Rebecca.
As Brian and the team progresses in the quiz competition, things between him and Rebecca get complicated, and Alice does not make things easy, or shall we say Brian’s fascination with Alice does not make it easy.
The comedy in this film is quite sophisticated and smart, and the relationships between the characters might as well be those between you and your friends at university for its authenticity. Unfortunately the standard love-story formula is followed (guy at some time does something to upset girl, girl runs away, guy follows, guy eventually fixes, girl comes running back), which takes a bit of the surprise and wonder out of the story, but I can’t think of many romance films that really escape this. As for me, this is a very enjoyable little film that actually adds a slight bit of tension to the romantic climax of the film, and that is something we don’t see that often.
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