Criticature: "Starter for 10"

Writing negative criticism is fun. I admit that much. It’s definitely more fun than writing something that is gushy and overflowing with praise. And it is precisely for such reasons that the following review of Tom Vaughn’s charming college-bound coming-of-age tale is only going to be somewhat amusing. Because that is what the movie is.

In step with a wave of nostalgic 80’s-themed retrospectives of the last decade or so, “SFT” follows whiz-kid Brian Jackson (McAvoy) during his freshman year at Bristol as he attempts to prove his worth, both to himself and to his romantic pursuits, on the quiz show University Challenge.


I can’t particularly understand the 89% approval rating but then again with the benefit of hindsight I might be hedging my bets.

The movie is certainly nothing new---replete with Dawson casting, cliché denouements and fluffy (but decidedly false) awkwardisms. But there is something to be found and admired in Brian’s relationship with his old blue-collar, down-and-out hometown chum Spencer (Cooper), who is left behind when Brian begins chasing girls and dreams of glory in the halls of knowledge.

There are some good moments with a few notable performances by Rebecca Hall (recently reaching wider American audiences in Ben Affleck’s “The Town”) and Alice Eve from “She’s Out of My League” (hey, that rhymes). But altogether it’s too much plug-and-play. And I’d like to think that it takes more than a 30-second bite of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades”, a few black berets and references to Che Guevara to make a good period piece.
***

Directed by :
Tom Vaughan

Written by:
David Nicholls (based on his novel)

Produced by: 
Jeff Abberley...........................executive producer
Julia Blackman.........................executive producer
Diana Choi Sachs....................co-producer
Michelle Chydzik Sowa...........executive producer
Gary Goetzman
Tom Hanks
Pippa Harris
Nathalie Marciano....................executive producer
Sam Mendes............................executive producer
Mary Richards.........................co-producer
Steven Shareshian....................executive producer

Cast: 
Joseph Friend.........................Young Brian
James Gaddas........................Martin Jackson
Catherine Tate........................Julie Jackson
Mark Gatiss...........................Bamber Gascoigne
Guy Henry.............................Dr. Morrison
James McAvoy .....................Brian Jackson
James Corden........................Tone
Dominic Cooper....................Spencer
Simon Woods........................Josh
Sule Rimi...............................Marcus
Rebecca Hall.........................Rebecca Epstein
Benedict Cumberbatch...........Patrick Watts
Elaine Tan..............................Lucy Chang
Ian Bonar..............................Colin
Alice Eve...............................Alice Harbinson
Reuben Henry Biggs...............Anthony Salmon
Ben Willbond..........................University Challenge Coordinator