‘Starter’ a pleasant romance that recalls 1980s teen flicks
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, March 8, 2007
“Starter for Ten” is a reasonably pleasant movie given a boost by the unmistakable signs of a career taking off.
The career belongs to James McAvoy, the young Scotsman who played the lead opposite Forest Whitaker’s Oscar-winning performance in “The Last King of Scotland.” In his early roles, such as “Bright Young Things,” McAvoy gave off some of the vibe of a young John Cusack, and his graduation to larger parts (the faun in “The Chronicles of Narnia,” for instance) has been no surprise.
McAvoy goes to college in “Starter for Ten,” a conventional comedy of school days. He plays Brian, a working-class kid who gets into Bristol University based on his bright ambitions and his knack for remembering trivial facts.
This distances him from his blue-collar mates back home, but it leads to one of his biggest adventures at school: a place on the trivia team. The four-person team will compete on the TV series “University Challenge,” which is like the old “College Bowl.”
Of course, there’s romance. If you recall the 1980s John Hughes movies, it will come as no surprise that Brian gets distracted by a beautiful classmate (Alice Eve) without noticing that his slightly less beautiful (but really quite stunning) best friend (Rebecca Hall) is his true lovemate.
“Starter for Ten” is itself set in the 1980s, which makes the connection to “Pretty in Pink” even clearer. It’s got the expected collection of ’80s songs by bands such as the Cure and the Smiths, and a pop approach from director Tom Vaughan.
The film was written by David Nicholls, who adapted his own novel, and although Nicholls and Vaughan both attended Bristol University in the 1980s, there’s a generic feel to Brian’s adventures. The movie never quite kicks into a distinctive gear.
It is, however, likable and sometimes quite funny. McAvoy carries it, with a willingness to appear goofy (Brian is a hapless geek) and an innate bouncy energy.
He’s not alone, and it helps that the two women are also terrific. Alice Eve is much more interesting than the standard-issue pretty blond, and Rebecca Hall (daughter of the famous stage director Sir Peter Hall) is quite striking. This movie may be no world-beater, but these people are going places.
Quiz kid: A college comedy about a geeky working-class kid (James McAvoy) with a talent for TV quiz shows. The movie’s not especially distinctive, but McAvoy and co-stars Rebecca Hall and Alice Eve give off the pleasant hum of exciting young careers on the rise.
Rating: PG-13 rating is for subject matter.
Now showing: Metro, Uptown
