Starter for Ten

On holiday this year I found myself, at a point, stuck with nothing to read. Anyone familiar with the concept of British holidays knows this is an occurrence worthy of dread, fortunately the place we were staying had a bookshelf for guests, a random assortment of collected works assembled over many years, and as I browsed it one book caught my attention, Starter for 10. This was partly because I had heard about the film, but soon enough I was caught up, the book was excellent and was finished by the time we left. So when I recently had the chance to see the film I was intrigued, as I have often commented before the perils of book to film conversions lie (usually) directly upon the viewers first exposure to the story. Those who have already enjoyed and grown close to either form find it much harder to accept the other. Set in 1985 the film tells the story of Brian, a boy from Essex who makes his way to Bristol Uni and his quest to get onto the local university challenge team, but more importantly it deals with the search for knowledge and truth and the growing pains that come with moving away from home, and discovering yourself. James McAvoy, who is making quite a name for himself in Hollywood now, plays the titular Brian and again impresses. His acting skills are without question but it was the subtle humour and comic timing he possesses that really shone in the film, he manages to really sell Brian’s earnest nature and self-destructive side. The rest of the cast are made up relative unknowns, boosted by some recognisable British comic faces, Catherine Tate plays his widowed mother, and the University Challenge host Bamber Gascoigne is aptly played by the League of Gentlemen’s Mark Gatiss. Adapted from his own book by David Nicholls (who is a scriptwriter by profession) the film is pretty faithful to the themes and ideas of the book and plays out the story well, always entertaining and with a keen eye for the detail of the time, with a great 80s soundtrack as well full of the Cure and Tears for Fears. However in adapting the book for the big screen many of the more realistic and enjoyable aspects of the book have been rounded off, like the sharp corners of a piece of furniture. Obviously films have more traditional conventions but the cheerier tone leaves many of the books key characters somehow dulled, primary to this is Rebecca, the local activist Brian meets at Uni, in the book she is marvellously scathing and defensive, her exchanges with Brian are both bruising and hilarious, however in the film she is a much nicer character, the obvious conventions of the romantic comedy genre forcing these character into archetypes and so somehow depriving them of their spark. That’s not to say the film does a bad job at all, like I said it is a faithful representation of the book, and in fact in some places neatly trims the unnecessary plotlines and actually improves the ending, something that was rather to abrupt in the book, its just that after enjoying the frankness and distinct characters in the book, it is harder to see them as the same as their celluloid counterparts. Still, like I said these are faults that lie more with the fact that I enjoyed the book so, than any particular fault of the filmmakers. The setting and ideas of the film help distinguish it from other films of its ilk and unlike many there is a genuine honesty about the piece that makes it refreshing and enjoyable. At the end of the day the film doesn’t re-invent the genre, but it does offer up some new ideas and its inherent Britishness has a unique charm of its own. This is a genuinely funny and romantic film that, despite its watering down of some of the books elements, retains enough of what that so great to be worth watching. Recommended.

A small but affecting film about adolescence and possibility that struck a chord with me and, despite the slight sugar-coating of the books rougher edges, this is still recommended as an amusing and heartfelt ode to youth and knowledge.

7/10