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The bit odd title refers to a popular British television game show where the correct answer to the first question earns the contestants an extra ten points. The show is called University Challenge, where bright young students from competing universities square off. The film is set in 1985, and Brian (James McAvoy of The Chronicles of Narnia) lives with his widowed mother in a working class English village by the seaside. He’s a talented student, who also has a knack for remembering things that often fall into the nice to know rather than the need to know category. His friends razz Brian for his smarts, but his mother looks forward to him being at college on a scholarship. It will be a good life for him in the future.Brian and his late father had been big fans of University Challenge, so Brian answers the call for contestants at Bristol College. Patrick (Benedict Cumberbatch), the team leader, made it to the finals last year and lost. This year he intends to win. It’s a four person team, and Alice (Alice Eve) captivates Brian from the start. She’s beautiful, smart, and has had more than her share of intimate romances. The two become friends and Alice invites Brian to her parents’ country estate. Once we get to know Alice’s parents, we see why Alice may be both bright and promiscuous. The other woman in Brian’s life is Rebecca (Rebecca Hall of The Prestige). She’s a good student, and a dedicated campus leader in anti apartheid rallies, and women’s issues. Brian and Rebecca are about to have a meaningful relationship, until Brian gets confused regarding his feelings for Rebecca and Alice.There are some laugh out loud moments, especially regarding nudity and older adults. Straight-laced Patrick is so priggish that he’s hard not to like. Brian’s street-wise hometown buddy Spencer (Dominic Cooper of The History Boys) cuts a swath with the girls when he visits Brian at Bristol. But he embarrasses his friend as well. The film does a nice job of focusing on class issues. A thought to ponder offered by the film is that what you know is less important than knowing enough to ask the right questions. That has a greater probability of prompting one to make the best decisions. Starter For Ten is a charming and entertaining film. While the TV showdown is somewhat the usual "spelling bee with a twist" angle, the things that lead up to it are rather delightful, interesting and funny. In a not so subtle way, the important message of the film is that young people can do something about social and global issues that politicians often only dance around.
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