Starter For 10 [2006]

Product Details

Actor : James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall, Alice Eve, Mark Gatiss, Catherine Tate
Format : Anamorphic, PAL
Aspect Ratio : 1.78:1
Binding : DVD
EAN : 5051429101040
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 2
Release Date : 2007-04-23
Running Time : 93minutes
Studio : Icon Home Entertainment

ASIN : B000MX7YM2

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Compared to James McAvoy's previous picture, The Last King of Scotland, this comedy may seem trivial, but trivia has its pleasures. Produced by Tom Hanks and adapted by David Nicholls from his 2003 novel, Starter for Ten doesn't tackle major historical events, but it also takes place in the past. After a prologue establishing his childhood in provincial Essex, Brian (McAvoy) takes off for Bristol University in 1985 and immediately sets his sights on the campus quiz team. If he makes the cut, he'll get to compete on University Challenge, a show he used to watch the show with his late father, who encouraged his son's quest for knowledge. For all his book smarts, though, Brian is rather naïve about the ways of the world, unlike his friend Spencer (Dominic Cooper, The History Boys), who remains in town. As Brian and his teammates prepare for the competition, he falls for co-eds Alice (Alice Eve) and Rebecca (Rebecca Hall, The Prestige), struggles to repair his fraying friendship with Spencer, and confronts feelings of betrayal over his mother's new boyfriend. For the most part, Starter for Ten explores standard-issue college concerns, but with abundant wit, whimsy, and a soundtrack stuffed with Thatcher-era favorites, like the Smiths and New Order. While the resolution to Brian's romantic dilemma hardly comes as a surprise, the climactic quiz show is a nail-biter. Mostly, the film is a fine showcase for the multi-talented McAvoy, who confirms that he can handle light comedy as gracefully as dark drama. --Kathleen C. Fennessy END

Customer Reviews

Just above average! (2008-09-19)

Having read the book of the same name,I must say that this is a good,if ,not fantastic interpretation.As usual,much is missed out,and characters are altered and glammed up for tv,(e.g. the brilliantly feisty scot rebecca is transformed into a leggy beauty queen for the movie),however this is still an enjoyable movie despite quite a few alterations/omissions.Good scenes include Alices cottage and a brill mum from catherine tate.Worth buying for the cheap price and brings back cool eighties memories for those of us who are of a certain age!!

Decent, likeable movie (2008-07-06)

In a nutshell: Set in the mid-80s, James McAvoy plays Brian Jackson, a working-class Essex boy with a thirst for knowledge who realises a dream to go to university (in this case Bristol) and enter University Challenge. On the way he falls in love with a beautiful blonde member of the quiz team but ultimately realises it's the plainer, but still attractive, brunette who is the girl for him - a la 'Gregory's Girl'. Fear not, the above `love twist' I revealed won't spoil the plot for you. It's made blatantly clear within the first 15 minutes that this is what will happen. And that's maybe the problem with the movie - it's all a bit predictable and safe - save for a fantastic twist in the University Challenge studios. It has a few nice performances from James McAvoy and Dominic Cooper, both set for future stardom, and the cast includes the always fantastic John Henshaw wearing a dodgy `tache. I must also mention the frighteningly realistic portrayal of Bamber Gascoigne by Mark 'League of Gentleman' Gatiss and Catherine Tate's sympathetic turn as Brian's mother.Adapted by David Nicholls from his own book, the film isn't particular smart enough, funny enough or romantic enough to be a major entry in either the rom-com or just plain comedy classic stakes. But on its own limited terms it's a watchable and likeable enough movie to while away a spare hour and a half. `Starter for Ten' is a joint effort by the BBC and HBO and boasts a production credit for a certain Mr Tom Hanks. And if you're of a `certain age' you'll probably enjoy the not bad soundtrack of early to mid-80s hits by British artists.

Light Entertainment (2008-06-12)

If you read the book like me, you will only notice a loose following of the story line, in my mind many of the funniest moments of the book have been missed out of this film. The film in it's own right isn't bad and has a few funny moments, however, I can't help feeling if they had extended it from 90minutes then it could have been a whole of a lot better. If you watch the film and enjoy it, then definitely buy the book afterwards as it's a whole lot better.

Potential for good... (2008-05-19)

This film has a plot which has the potential to be excellent - boy tries to escape his dead-end existence by the use of his wits and intelligence - and at first it seemed to be heading for a good interpretation.But somewhere along the line, despite excellent acting by James McAvoy and Rebecca Hall, people began to become caricatures and so his mother (Catherine Tate) and her new man 'Mr Whippy' and the slobs in the digs and the pathetically earnest fellow contestants lacked the gritty reality which the main characters realised.Alice Eve relied heavily on her blonde good looks but again, her family were caricatures of the laissez-faire parents who can't take too much reality.The music by The Cure was nice to listen to again, and a number of the songs were very enjoyable, as was the whole film as a pleasant afternoon or evening's entertainment.But really, that's all it was - nice and pleasant.

Fab (2007-12-24)

Another one of those 'How did this get on my rental list' movies, and yet another gem. A very different romantic comedy. The story of a young man's journey from dreaming about university, to getting there, to taking part in university challenge. Along the way he learns life's lessons on friendship, romance and love, with many hilarious moments along the way.James McAvoy is wonderful in the lead. If you're in the market for something a bit different, this comes very highly recommended. On a by note - I don't know why this is rated 15. I don't think it merited anything more than a 12 rating.

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