Starter For 10
University Challenge is definitely an institution that we still hold dear. After all, my family gather around every Monday night and pit our knowledge’s against each other much like the two teams do in the programme, trying to decipher the vast array of hard “general knowledge” questions. But still, we attempt to challenge our brain as each year; teams across the country try to proof that they are smarter than the other. University Challenge takes centre in Starter For Ten, this dizzy and romantic comedy.
Starter For Ten staring James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall and Alice Eve is about Brian (McAvoy) from Essex who has dreamt of competing as part of a University Challenge ever since he was a boy. But entering a University for the first time is daunting and he must balance his new studying life with the friends of his past. When he joins the University team, romantic interest comes to him twice in the form of fellow team mate Alice (Eve) and activist Rebecca (Hall,) all the while proving that despite his background he has the knowledge and passion to compete. Hilarious but often misfired, Starter For Ten is an enjoyable fare at least.
Why Is It Bad?
Now I wouldn’t say it is necessarily bad, it is actually well put together but the reason it is placed on the stale treat list is that it definitely has an acquired taste. Sometimes the situations and scenarios feel a little stale within the setting, particularly with James McAvoy’s strained Essex accents. The witty and comedic rise to University Challenge is often juxtaposed with seemingly false, cheesy and often bland romantic settings. And it may veer into a darker territory, it still struggles to pull of tensions between Brian’s world and it is seemingly anti-climatic. Although heavily realistic, the idea is strained as it veers into Brian’s juggling of women and that drags it down from an otherwise good movie.
Why Is It Good?
It is certainly a unique, if not brilliant tale that revolves around this wonderful quiz setting. There definitely is a charm to Starter For Ten that doesn’t waver from that. There is earnestness from Brian and that translates into the movie, keeping you watching. The jokes are there and so is the comedy, particularly a near unrecognisable but predictably stellar performance from Benedict Cumberbatch as the geeky, controlling team leader Patrick. Not to mention a rather funny fight scene. There are moments of good heart and the quiz that turns out to be ridiculously shocking.
This adaptation of David Nicholl's (on a screenplay bu Nicholl's himself) book still carries faults.. There is a heavily, if not shallow reliance on sentiment that is never properly explored because it focuses too much on the quirk. But Starter For Ten still carries it on and still has a enough gusto and heart to be an enjoyable fare.
Fingers on buzzers, here’s your starter for ten;
What movie would make perfect evening or Sunday viewing despite its faults?
TTFN
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