‘STARTER FOR 10’: A DELIGHTFUL ACADEMIC COMEDY WITH GOOD CAST!
A kind of underrated Indie-like film, Starter for 10 features an incredible cast. It is also a delightful and quite funny film that is worth seeing.
Starter for 10 (2006) Film Review
A working-class guy who doesn’t exactly fit in with the posh college culture at Bristol, Brian (James McAvoy) still has big plans. He’s going to go to university and get his degree and make something of his life, all things his pals don’t find impressive. His mother is proud of him, and in order to make his dad proud, he decides to join the challenge team. The captain, Patrick (Benedict Cumberbatch) isn’t predisposed to letting Brian join the team. He scored lowest of the four students trying out. Then one student has to leave the team and now Brian is in.
Suddenly everything he dreams and hopes for comes true. Thing is, there is his good friend Rebecca (Rebecca Hall) who encourages him to get involved in more than his trivia team and then there is Alice (Alice Eve), the pretty girl Brian catches serious feelings for.
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‘STARTER FOR 10’: A DELIGHTFUL ACADEMIC COMEDY WITH GOOD CAST! Review of the 2006 movie with #JamesMcAvoy. #BenedictCumberbatch #Movies Share on X
Like so many films, this title is one I meant to see way back when but never did. It’s been on my mental list for a while now and finally I played the movie. It’s a film that much to my surprise is actually very good which is led by its brilliant cast. From Dominic Cooper to Catherine Tate, and even James Corden, plus the top-billed cast, you see some great talent. This alone is reason enough to see the film, but if its stacked cast doesn’t convince you, let’s see what other reasons may convince you.
The story is good too. It’s one of those inspirational movies that takes its lead on a journey to honor someone only to eventually realize that these experiences should also be for him, too. The film is so dang entertaining but it is one of those I’m not quite sure how to categorize. The closest would be the niche dramedy tag and while this does fit, just know that buried in the drama, there is comedy. Starter for 10 is a film that will go on my mental rewatch list. It’s lots of fun and something that features many of our favorite across the pond stars before they were famous, which is entertaining enough on its own.
Photos: Alamy | Feature Poster Art: HBO Films / BBC Films
Stream, at publication, on HBO Max; or digitally purchase on places like Prime Video
Content: there is a scene that shows guys throwing punches and a scene of two people using drugs. Elsewhere characters get drunk and make stupid choices. Two scenes show some “aggressive” making out and hands roaming. Both scenes end before anything is taken off or goes further. There is some crude humor and profanity. A couple appears naked in their kitchen with props covering anything graphic. The film rates PG-13.
