Starter for 10

Name: Starter for 10
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: February 23, 2007
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 69
Cast: James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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Starter For 10

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Movie Details & Credits

Picturehouse Entertainment | Release Date: February 23, 2007 | PG-13

Starring: James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall

Summary: A romantic comedy set in the mid-eighties about a working-class kid struggling to make his way in the rarefied world of an upper-class British university, Starter for 10 is a bittersweet tale about loyalty, class, falling in love and the difference between knowledge and wisdom. (Picturehouse)

Director: Tom Vaughan

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff [Not Credited]

Despite its awkward title, Starter for 10 is a winning coming-of-age tale told with grace and charm. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

While at times overly familiar, the film never feels self-mocking. Read full review

Steven Rea

McAvoy is charismatic, funny, and on the mark. Hall and Eve are both just right in their roles - bringing depth and detail to what could have been caricature parts. And if Starter for 10 takes a turn into foolhardy tragedy, it doesn't linger too long there. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

There's a tidiness and affection to this British homage to John Hughes movies. Read full review

Desson Thomson

McAvoy, so memorable as Idi Amin's doctor turned adviser in last year's "The Last King of Scotland," may be the most likable British newcomer since Ewan McGregor; his glistening eyes can seduce audiences with their ability to show conflicting emotions. Read full review

Jack Mathews

This is cheeky sitcom in a minor key, and fated to be a mere footnote on McAvoy's resume. Read full review

Rick Groen

Your basic and basically predictable by-the-numbers picture. Read full review

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User Reviews

TeriZ.

Sep 20, 2007

This is a gem of a movie. James McAvoy is amazing!

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GregoryL.

Jul 14, 2007

Definitely.... I read the book 2 years ago and just discovered that it had a movie made... the movie helped a lot with some of the problems i had been having with my gf and my best friend! Brian is particularly inspiring, and Alice was charmingly beautiful... I'd say that Alice would Definitely.... I read the book 2 years ago and just discovered that it had a movie made... the movie helped a lot with some of the problems i had been having with my gf and my best friend! Brian is particularly inspiring, and Alice was charmingly beautiful... I'd say that Alice would have been good with Brian... Rebecca surprised me at the end, as the book didn't mention their reunion.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JayH

Aug 30, 2009

What makes this film work is the rich characterizations, great acting, a believable screenplay and thoughtful direction. The score is a great asset to the film, good use of songs. It's entertaining, touching and has a great pace.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie paints a pretty realistic seeming though rather sentimental picture of one young mans time at University - his relationships as well as his attempts to fit in and appear on University Challenge. It certainly captures the 1980s quite well, with the soundtrack, dialog and different posters and props present, as well as the clothing featured etc. all being very much of the time (or to me it seemed genuine of the time anyway).

Brian comes across as quite naive but he's also quite relatable I think - most people can relate to the idea of leaving home to start University feeling a bit vulnerable and having to work to make a name for themselves. This movie also benefits from a good cast, with James McEvoy portraying Brian, Dominic Cooper as Brians old schoolmate Spencer, Catherine Tate as Brians mother and Benedict Cumberbatch (who plays the lead role in BBCs latest Sherlock Holmes drama series) playing Patrick, who is the University's team leader as it were - he certainly comes across as quite upper class, while Spencer is your typical working class guy trying to dodge the system. James Corden also makes an appearance as a bit of a layabout seen in a few scenes (with long hair, believe it or not).

The movie is quite watchable, the characters all have their own stories which are fairly well developed, with the main character Brian being quite likeable - it is quite sentimental so it won't appeal to or be liked by everyone but its an easy enough watch, it may seem as much as slightly bland to some but I felt pretty engaged with the story and the characters, I didn't find myself checking my watch which is one of the most telling signs of a bad movie, so it could definitely be worse. Indeed, there are one or two plot twists which surprised me and kept me watching. Also worth mentioning is that its certainly not an overly long movie at only just over an hour and a half - plus I don't remember noticing a lag in the middle (half way through) as some, or even nowadays most, other movies have either - there's always something going on, the characters are fairly engaging and the story develops quite well, with a nice ending I thought, although some critics may find it a little cheesy but then it is meant to be a rather sentimental movie I think, so in a way it makes sense. The movie has one or two political slants through the characters but its not very preachy as such, more a reflection of one or two of the social issues that date from the time its set in (the mid 1980s).

There's not much else that can be said about this movie without giving much away, I think. There are one or two scenes involving mild violence but nothing graphic, indeed the movie carries a 12a certificate, due mainly to mild sexual content (more implied than anything else to be honest) and the ocassional use of strong language. There is also one scene involving drug use, so this may affect your decision as to whether or not to watch this with younger viewers but I wouldn't say its likely to offend many people at all really.

Yes, I'm happy to recommend this movie. Its perhaps not groundbreaking but then I didn't expect it to be - the script/story is decent with interesting characters and a good cast, which is the basis for a good movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DWilly

Mar 2, 2007

Good God this is a bad movie. Not just bad, student film bad... and not just student film bad, English student film bad with its attendant whimsy and narrowness and embarassed-at-its-leering sexual stiffness. For all the exagerated critical numbers, there was no one in the theater when I Good God this is a bad movie. Not just bad, student film bad... and not just student film bad, English student film bad with its attendant whimsy and narrowness and embarassed-at-its-leering sexual stiffness. For all the exagerated critical numbers, there was no one in the theater when I entered and there was no one in the theater when the credits rolled.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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