Sit back and enjoy the nostalgia of student angst and love affairs, all against the backdrop of an 80s soundtrack, says Elspeth Waters
It’s generally not a wise move to harbour too many preconceptions when sitting down to watch a film, but when you’ve recently read and enjoyed the book upon which it was based it is especially dangerous. Instead of just enjoying the prospect of some movie magic, the chances are you’ll be anxiously wondering what scenes got cut in the editing room and whether the actors will do justice to the characters you’ve come to know and love.
Such was my predicament upon watching Starter For 10, the coming-of-age drama about an ordinary Essex boy’s first year at university and his attempts to juggle first love with a lifelong thirst for knowledge. However, my customary misgivings in such situations were much appeased by the discovery that author David Nicholls had not only given his blessing for the best-selling novel to be rendered in film, but actually written the screenplay himself. And the result: a pretty faithful transposition, in tone and characterisation at least, if not entirely in content.
The film is in fact a showcase of modern British talent, from its fresh-faced director Tom Vaughan, to rapidly rising star, James McAvoy, who embodies protagonist Brian Jackson with bucket loads of charm. Although McAvoy, to use Nicholls’ own words, is much better looking than the character he envisaged (and, one suspects, drew from his own youthful experiences), he is brilliant as the hapless Brian. Watching him endure ridicule and heartache on a daily basis after setting his sights first on realising the dream of being on University Challenge, and then on bagging the team’s top totty, Alice Harbinson (Alice, daughter of Trevor, Eve), is excruciating at times, not least because while the particular circumstances may be unique to him, the desperation to be accepted is not. Eve is fittingly capricious, but it is Rebecca Hall (daughter of veteran director, Peter Hall) who captures most attention, as the less gregarious, but still beautiful, leggy student activist who really deserves Brian’s affection.
The formula may seem familiar – boy leaves home, tries to forget roots, meets pretty girl, goes to great lengths to get girl, realises affections have been misplaced and learns from mistakes – but Starter For 10 is genuinely likeable, and it is not difficult to see why Tom Hanks was so keen for his production company, Playtone, to get its hands on it. Brian is adorably naïve and his embarrassments are often laugh-out-loud hilarious: the bit where he’s caught mid-munchies at Alice’s country home by her naked, and sincerely humourless, parents, played by Charles Dance and Lindsay Duncan, is particularly memorable. And, the characters, in their mix of complexity and virtual caricature, are aptly portrayed in nearly all cases. What’s more, they are real-looking, complete with crooked teeth and curves, which is surprisingly rare these days, even from our home-grown offerings.
If there’s one major disappointment, it’s the limited characterisation given to Brian’s mum, played by the wonderful Catherine Tate. While the book devotes a great deal of time to her alcoholism, as one of the main reasons for Brian’s desperation to disassociate himself from home, Nicholls’ script gives this only a cursory reference and Tate seems let down by the lines in a number of places. These gripes aside, it’s worth watching for the beautiful backdrop of Bristol university alone; and if that doesn’t leave you feeling a little nostalgic for those angst-filled student years, the fabulous 80s outfits and classic soundtrack will definitely raise a few smiles.
Starter For Ten is in cinemas from 20 October 2006.
