A.I.-ChatBot wasn’t around yet, but you’d never know it from this off-the-rack coming-of-age college memoir. Loaded with up-and-comers (James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall, James Corden, Dominic Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch) overcompensating for being a decade too old for university life, the film is pleasant enough in the early going as McAvoy’s lower middle-class striver (from Essex!) tries to adjust to the posh lads and sophisticated co-eds of the mid-‘80s who see right thru him. The story hook is extracurricular with McAvoy making the College Challenge Team (this side of the pond it was TV’s College Bowl) and initially falling for rich, glam blonde teammate when his natural match is obviously the politically active Jewish brunette he spars with. (Beatrice & Benedict they’re not; while all the scenes involving Ms. Blonde, especially a New Year’s visit at her ‘cottage’ with Mater & Pater, are excruciating.) The one surprise in the whole film is an on camera crisis during the tournament that feels so totally out of character it just may be a true incident from the life of scripter David Nicholls. You still won’t believe it.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Grossing small-change on release, the film built a cult following (from all those rising stars?) and is currently being turned into a stage musical. And those scenes back home in Essex? One more I VITTELONI/'53 copycat Fellini.
WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK: Cameron Crowe made his rep with stuff like this, but at least it was actually made in the time period. Think SAY ANYTHING/’89. (It’s a good guess that McAvoy studied John Cusack’s perf assiduously.) But for something far better observed, try John Sayles’ sleeper pic BABY IT’S YOU/’83. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2022/10/baby-its-you-1983.html
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