My other half is a big fan of British films, so when he saw this film in Sainsburys, I knew he'd want to watch it. We were then browsing in the library this past weekend and he saw it on the shelf and quickly told me to check it out. I thought it sounded quite good, its not often we find a ... Read review
Compared to James McAvoy's previous picture,The Last King of Scotland, this comedy may ... more
seem trivial, but trivia has its pleasures. Produced by Tom Hanks and adapted by David Nicholls from his 2003 novel,Starter for Tendoesn't tackle major historical ev...
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It's 1985; Thatcher's in power, The Cure are In Between Days and Marty McFly's trying to ... more
get Back To The Future. James McAvoy (The Last King Of Scotland, Shameless) is Brian Jackson, a wide-eyed working class kid whose exhaustive grasp of general knowl...
Compared to James McAvoy's previous picture,The Last King of Scotland, this comedy may ... more
seem trivial, but trivia has its pleasures. Produced by Tom Hanks and adapted by David Nicholls from his 2003 novel,Starter for Tendoesn't tackle major historical ev...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
From Playtone and producers Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman and Pippa Harris Starter For 10 is a ... more
romantic comedy set in the mid-eighties about a working-class kid struggling to make his way in the rarified world of an upper-class British University. On his...
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Is David Nicholls' Starter for Ten a throwback? Many readers look back with nostalgia to a ... more
recent golden age of comic writing, when David Lodge, Malcolm Bradbury and Tom Sharpe were producing some achingly funny work, with brilliantly realised characters. But Nicholls' sharp-as-nails novel has all the comic acumen of his great predecessors (along with their frequently-utilised university campus milieu) and, like Lodge and co., Nicholls writes real characters, not just boobies suitable only for pratfalls and sexual embarrassment. So even though the situations may often be ridiculous, we're still engaged by the protagonists. Here, they are university student Brian Jackson and aspiring actress Alice Harbinson. Brian has arrived at his place of learning with a stronger desire than the acquisition of knowledge: he's going to be a star of TV's hottest quiz. But his progress on "The Challenge" is somewhat stymied by his growing desire for the beguiling Alice, struggling to make her mark as an actress. And as obstacles impede their affair, Brian becomes more and more convinced that only overwhelming success on the quiz show will win her. What makes this novel such a delight, apart from the strongly drawn characters (both major and minor) is the coruscating dialogue: Nicholls writes comic dialogue like a dream, and his targets are many and varied: the idiocies of love and sex, the ludicrous pursuit of meaningless TV celebrity, fat cat businessmen lining their pockets--you name it, and it's probably here; Starter for Ten is a panoply of modern Britain with all its glories and excesses writ large. Nicholls wrote the third series of the hit TV series Cold Feet, which is as good a demonstration of his credentials as one could wish for. But Starter for Ten is his best work; there are no false notes struck by miscast actors, just prose that has a comic energy not often encountered these days. --Barry Forshaw
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Is David Nicholls'Starter for Tena throwback? Many readers look back with nostalgia to a ... more
recent golden age of comic writing, when David Lodge, Malcolm Bradbury and Tom Sharpe were producing some achingly funny work, with brilliantly realised characters. But Nicholls' sharp-as-nails novel has all the comic acumen of his great predecessors (along with their frequently-utilised university campus milieu) and, like Lodge and co., Nicholls writes real characters, not just boobies suitable only for pratfalls and sexual embarrassment. So even though the situations may often be ridiculous, we're still engaged by the protagonists.Here, they are university student Brian Jackson and aspiring actress Alice Harbinson. Brian has arrived at his place of learning with a stronger desire than the acquisition of knowledge: he's going to be a star of TV's hottest quiz. But his progress on "The Challenge" is somewhat stymied by his growing desire for the beguiling Alice, struggling to make her mark as an actress. And as obstacles impede their affair, Brian becomes more and more convinced that only overwhelming success on the quiz show will win her.What makes this novel such a delight, apart from the strongly drawn characters (both major and minor) is the coruscating dialogue: Nicholls writes comic dialogue like a dream, and his targets are many and varied: the idiocies of love and sex, the ludicrous pursuit of meaningless TV celebrity, fat cat businessmen lining their pockets--you name it, and it's probably here;Starter for Tenis a panoply of modern Britain with all its glories and excesses writ large. Nicholls wrote the third series of the hit TV seriesCold Feet, which is as good a demonstration of his credentials as one could wish for. ButStarter for Tenis his best work; there are no false notes struck by miscast actors, just prose that has a comic energy not often encountered these days. --Barry Forshaw
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It's 1985 and Brian Jackson has arrived at university with a burning ambition - to make it ... more
onto TV's foremost general knowledge quiz. But no sooner has he embarked on 'The Challenge' than he finds himself falling hopelessly in love with his teammate the beautiful and charismatic would-be actress Alice Harbinson. When Alice fails to fall for his slightly over-eager charms Brian comes up with a foolproof plan to capture her heart once and for all. He's going to win the game at any cost because - after all - everyone knows that what a woman really wants from a man is a comprehensive grasp of general knowledge...Starter for Ten is a comedy about love class growing-up and the all-important difference between knowledge and wisdom. Are you up to the challenge of the funniest novel in years?
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Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: Funny, good cast, love the nostalgia Disadvantages: -
My other half is a big fan of British films, so when he saw this film in Sainsburys, I knew he'd want to watch it. We were then browsing in the library this past weekend and he saw it on the shelf and quickly told me to check it out. I thought it sounded quite good, its not often we find a film both of us want to see! We watched it that night and it was definitely a film we both enjoyed, so much so he wants to buy a copy for himself!
... ...1980's in Essex. He's about to leave home to go to Bristol University, something he and his mum Julie are very proud of. Brian arrives, and settles in to life there. He tries out for University's University Challenge team and makes it through. He gets close to fellow team member Anna, and the pair strike up a friendship. As their slot on University Challenge nears, will Brian and co be able to make it? And will poor Brian ever find love?
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My other half is a big fan of British films, so when he saw this film in Sainsburys, I knew he'd want to watch it. We were then browsing in the library this past weekend and he saw it on the shelf and quickly told me to check it out. I thought it sounded quite good, its not often we find a film both of us want to see! We watched it that night and it was definitely a film we both enjoyed, so much so he wants to buy a copy for himself!
Brian Jackson is an 18 year old living in the 1980's in Essex. He's about to leave home to go to Bristol University, something he and his mum Julie are very proud of. Brian arrives, and settles in to life there. He tries out for University's University Challenge team and makes it through. He gets close to fellow team member Anna, and the pair strike up a friendship. As their slot on University Challenge nears, will Brian and co be able to make it? And will poor Brian ever find love?
Billed as a comedy, this film is about geeky Brian's love of quizzes, his time at Bristol University and trying to make it onto University Challenge. The film is set in the 1980's and really displays this period very well, the clothes and hairdo's show the 80's very well, and the soundtrack is fantastic, showcasing some fantastic 80's hits such as Blue Monday by New Order, I'm Your Man by Wham and Pictures of You by The Cure. References to times gone by such as 'ghetto-blasters' made me laugh and I felt the time was well reflected in the movie, and the actors have done a good job going back in time to when most of them were just kids themselves!
The film is headlines by James McAvoy, whom is probably best known for starring in Atonement, and the TV show Shameless. For some reason, McAvoy never seems to age and he pulls off playing an 18/19 year old fantastically, you'd never guess he's actually nearly 30! He plays bumbling quiz geek Brian with real comedy skill, and he is great to watch. His scruffy hair, kooky clothes and nervous disposition brough Brian to life, and I definitely warmed to him as soon as the film starts. As well as the comedy however, he also does a few of the dramatic scenes real justice and portrays real emotion, dragging you right into the film. He is great on-screen with Catherine Tate who plays his mother Julie, and I felt comedy scenes between the pair should have been more frequent than they were as they were brilliant together.
Alongside McAvoy, Rebecca Hall plays fellow student and passionate protestor Rebeeca with a great nonchalance in a really excellent performance. Alice Eve (daughter of actor Trevor Eve) plays Brian's "friend" Alice, a girl who is so up herself, I cannot see why Brian found her attractive and to be honest, I loathed her character right from the start, I could see what she was going to be like straight away! The brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch is Patrick, captain of the University Challenge team, and he is the funniest character in the film, never failing to make me laugh while he was on-screen! It is a great cast and one which brough the film fully to life.
This film is a great flashback to the 80's, and has a great story which will keep you involved all the way through. It has several plot threads running along at once; the quiz, Brian's love-life, his family life and time at Bristol University. I felt it was well constructed, flicking between scenes and places effortlessly, and allowing the audience to warm to all of the characters and story. Some of my favourite scenes were at home with Brian and his mum. Catherine Tate was criminally unused in this film, she is one of our greatest comedy actresses but she still lights up the screen whenever she is on. University life is also well portrayed here, with funny fresher parties with people lingering at the walls with a plastic cup of cheap alcohol, a tiny room in a house with kooky housemates and forming friendships with unlikely people.
Although I was a little unsure about this at first, I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! My partner loved it and was dead pleased for choosing it! McAvoy does a great job in his lead role and carries the film incredibly well, with realism and humour, and together with his co-stars they all make a great film which is funny, emotional and most of all very watchable. I would definitely recommend you see this, even if only for the nostalgia factor and 80's soundtrack! A really great British film worth a watch.
Written by David Nicholls, and directed by Tom Vaughn. The film was released in November 2006 in the UK, with a certificate of 12A. The film runs for 92 minutes. The DVD is available on Amazon for £4.99. The film is based on the book of the same name written by David Nicholls.
Main Cast: James McAvoy ... Brian Jackson Catherine Tate ... Julie Jackson Rebecca Hall ... Rebecca Epstein Benedict Cumberbatch ... Patrick Watts Alice Eve ... Alice Harbinson John Henshaw ... Des
Advantages: easy viewing Disadvantages: doesn't go anywhere
...really looking forward to watching Starter for 10 after having read some positive reviews about in on both Dooyoo and Ciao! and also because it's British. I sat down to watch it last night with my husband, and although it was a reasonably enjoyable film, it sort of left me feeling well 'what was the point of that?'
At the centre of the film is Brian Jackson (played by James McAvoy). He's an ordinary sort of lad from an ordinary seaside town in Essex ... ...University. At the beginning of the film we learn that he has a huge fascination with general knowledge and loves the programme University Challenge with a passion. When he gets to Bristol he mnages to get on the team to take part in the quiz. He also falls for one of his extremely attractive team mates, whilst befriending a few other colourful characters along the way.
It's hard to say what the film is about really. I sort of expected it to be ...
kingfisher111 05.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Starter For Ten (DVD)
Advantages: It's an affable rom-com with some warm performances. Disadvantages: It's predictable in the extreme.
Quiz buff Brian has been obsessed with accumulating knowledge ever since he was a little boy. And it stands him in good stead when he wins a place at Bristol University in the mid-1980s. But there is one thing he knows absolutely nothing about; girls. Things start to look up when he gets a place on the University Challenge team where he meets privileged and gorgeous Alice. But he's so dazzled by her he barely notices the smart, sassy and politically ... ...to make his widowed mother proud. The whole world seems to be on a nostalgia trip for the 1980s and "Cold Feet" director Tom Vaughan is no exception with this Bristol-based comedy. To give him his due, his re-creation of the era is spot-on. From dodgy student digs to quad protests, skin-tight denim and big hair, it's all there. The representation of the old "University Challenge" set is flawless, right down to the tinny theme tune and Mark Gatiss' ...
afy9mab 21.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Starter For Ten (DVD)
Starter for ten was a DVD that my Wife bought and it had been sat on our shelf whilst we waited for our new DVD player to arrive, as we couldn't get any of our DVD's to play at all on our old one. I have to admit I wasn't that bothered if I saw it or not and was actually slightly grateful that I was managing to hold off on this one for a while! However, as soon as the new DVD player arrived my Wife insisted that we watch this as she has been wanting ... ...in the cinema in fact but she hadn't managed to go and see it. She was so desperate to see it because she has the book and really wanted to see the film! So one evening we sat down to watch it with me not expecting much but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and overall glad that I had actually ended up watching this film!!
The story of the film is about a guy named Brian, played by James McAvoy, who is pretty average - not very attractive ...
peteandcesca 26.03.2008 (20.03.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Starter For Ten (DVD)
Contains strong language and moderate sex references
Video Category
Feature Film
Country Of Origin
United Kingdom
Plot
1985; Britain has had to endure race riots, minor strikes and a milk-snatching Prime Minister, but for Brian, life seems more complicated. A working class kid commanding a wealth of general knowledge, Brian’s ambition to appear on TV’s UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE is within his grasp, but communicating with the fairer sex proves to be something of a non-starter. With a place on the show assured, Brian is ready for anything – anything except for falling in love with fellow student and team-mate Alice, that is. To complicate matters further, Brian must resist the temptation of animal rights activist Rebecca and overcome the nagging doubt that he’s about to become the pretentious student his childhood friends fear.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Release date
23/04/2007
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
ICON 10104, ICON 30104
Barcode
5051429101040, 5051429301044
Screenwriter
David Nicholls
Author
David Nicholls
Languages
Main Language
English
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Cast and crew interviews, University Challenge 80s quiz, Trailer, Cast and crew interviews, University Challenge 80s quiz, Theatrical trailer
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Professional reviews
Review
the most refreshing, painfully funny British comedy in years (Arena, 14/03/2007)
A cross between ABOUT A BOY and THE BREAKFAST CLUB (Total Film, 14/03/2007)
DVD Description
1985; Britain has had to endure race riots, minor strikes and a milk-snatching Prime Minister, but for Brian (James McAvoy – THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), life seems more complicated. A working class kid commanding a wealth of general knowledge, Brian’s ambition to appear on TV’s UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE is within his grasp, but communicating with the fairer sex proves to be something of a non-starter. With a place on the show assured, Brian is ready for anything – anything except for falling in love with fellow student and team-mate Alice, that is. To complicate matters further, Brian must resist the temptation of animal rights activist Rebecca and overcome the nagging doubt that he’s about to become the pretentious student his childhood friends fear.
With a wall-to-wall soundtrack of 80s chart toppers and cameos from some of Britain’s hottest comedy talent, STARTER FOR 10 is a romantic comedy with a bittersweet edge and guaranteed to win you over.
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