History Film / StarterForTen

* ThatNostalgiaShow: Set in the mid-'80s, and makes glorious use of it with the soundtrack, which features both sides of the Morrissey-Robert Smith feud, the Psychedelic Furs, Echo & The Bunnymen and the Style Council, [[IncrediblyLamePun for starters]]

* MatzoFever: Brian has this for Rebecca Epstein: "That's a ''Jewish'' name!"

* AnachronismStew: The movie takes place in 1985, yet we hear The Cure's "Pictures of You" and "Lovesong" (the latter is played during the end credits) which were released in 1989 on the album "Disintegration".

* ShoutOut: The song Ace of Spades in a [[Series/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent '80s sitcom ''The Young Ones''. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In ''The Young Ones'', Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext it's that sort of show]].]]

* ShoutOut: The song Ace of Spades in a [[Series/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent '80s sitcom ''The Young Ones''. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In ''The Young Ones'', Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext it's that sort of show]].

* ShoutOut: The song Ace of Spades in a [[Series/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent 80s sitcom The Young Ones. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In the Young Ones, Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext it's that sort of show]] ]].

* HollywoodNerd: If an [[{{Adorkable}} adorkable]] Creator/JamesMcAvoy and a somewhat [[BritishStuffiness stuffy]] Creator/BenedictCumberbatch are the geekiest looking persons on set, you probably should overthink the authenticity of your casting. [[NerdsAreSexy Unless of course you're trying to make a statement.]]

* {{Adorkable}}: Brian.

* DeadpanSnarker: Rebecca.
* DisappearedDad: Brian's died several years ago.

* LameExcuse: Brian is meant to be spending New Year's Eve with Alice, but they have to send him home early. This is because her grandmother has fallen down the stairs and broken her hip, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Brian getting stoned and disgracing himself in front of Alice's [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked parents]].

* ShoutOut: The song Ace of Spades in a [[Series/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent 80s sitcom The Young Ones. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In the Young Ones, Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[ItMakesEvenLessSenseInContext it's that sort of show]] ]].

For as long as he can remember, working class [[UsefulNotes/TheGreatBritishSeaside South]][[HomeCounties ender]] Brian Jackson has craved knowledge and dreamed of going to university- and ultimately, appearing on ''Series/UniversityChallenge''. He finally achieves all of these things when, against everyone's expectations (including his own), he is accepted at [[UsefulNotes/BritishUnis The University of Bristol]] and makes the 1985 ''University Challenge'' team. With things going so well for Brian, [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong what could go wrong?]]

* ShoutOut: The song Ace of Spades in a [[Main/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent 80s sitcom The Young Ones. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In the Young Ones, Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[ItMakesEvenLessSenseInContext it's that sort of show]] ]].

For as long as he can remember, working class [[UsefulNotes/TheGreatBritishSeaside South]][[HomeCounties ender]] Brian Jackson has craved knowledge and dreamed of going to university- and ultimately, appearing on ''Series/UniversityChallenge''. He finally achieves all of these things when, against everyone's expectations (including his own), he is accepted at [[UsefulNotes/BritishUnis The University of Bristol]] and makes the 1985 ''University Challenge'' team. With things going so well for Brian, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Heavily implied with Brian, especially in his almost-sex scene with Alice.

** Upon getting into an awkward situation with Alice's mom where they end up having a conversation with her being totally naked and him being somewhat stoned, Brian delivers the line, [[TheGraduate "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Harbinson?"]] Sadly, she doesn't get the reference, and thinks he's hitting on her.

* AnachronismStew: The movie takes place in 1985, yet we hear The Cure's "Pictures of You" and "Lovesong" (the latter is played during the end credits) which were released in 1989.

* ShoutOut: The song [[Music/Motorhead Ace of Spades]] in a [[Main/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent 80s sitcom The Young Ones. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In the Young Ones, Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[ItMakesEvenLessSenseInContext it's that sort of show]] ]].

[[caption-width-right:350: You may ''not'' confer]]

* ShoutOut: The song [[Music/Motorhead Ace of Spades]] in a [[Main/TheYoungOnes film about University Challenge?]] It's almost certainly a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAz4nPNvLI this]] scene from the seminal and strangely violent 80s sitcom The Young Ones. In addition to that shoutout, [[spoiler: the Bristol team gets disqualified because the main character reads the question cards, forfeiting to Cambridge. In the Young Ones, Scumbag College are up against Footlights College, Oxbridge, and are disqualified after Rick changes around the question cards, after which Vyvyan throws a grenade at the opposing team, before they themselves are crushed by a giant éclair...[[ItMakesEvenLessSenseInContext it's that sort of show]].

* ThatNostalgiaShow: Set in the mid-'80s, and makes glorious use of it with the soundtrack.

* ShoutOut: The song Brian's mates play every night, Music/{{Motorhead}}'s ''Ace of Spades'', was played by the band in ''Series/TheYoungOnes'' episode "Bambi" - which was also about ''Series/UniversityChallenge''.

For as long as he can remember, working class Brian Jackson has craved knowledge and dreamed of going to university- and ultimately, appearing on ''Series/UniversityChallenge''. He finally achieves all of these things when, against everyone's expectations (including his own), he is accepted at [[UsefulNotes/BritishUnis The University of Bristol]] and makes the 1985 ''University Challenge'' team. With things going so well for Brian, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

* TheGreatBritishSeaside: Brian's hometown, Southend.

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Heavily implied with Brian, especially in his almost-sex scene with Alice.

* TheEighties: Takes place in 1985 and 1986, with a very 80s soundtrack to complement it.

* HollywoodNerd: Type 2 all over. If an [[{{Adorkable}} adorkable]] Creator/JamesMcAvoy and a somewhat [[BritishStuffiness stuffy]] BenedictCumberbatch are the geekiest looking persons on set, you probably should overthink the authenticity of your casting. [[NerdsAreSexy Unless of course you're trying to make a statement.]]

* LameExcuse: Brian is meant to be spending NYE with Alice, but they have to send him home early. This is because her grandmother has fallen down the stairs and broken her hip, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Brian getting stoned and disgracing himself in front of Alice's [[NakedPeopleAreFunny naked parents]].

** Upon getting into an awkward situation with Alice's mom where they end up having a conversation with her being totally naked and him being somewhat stoned, Brian delivers the line [[TheGraduate "are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Harbinson?"]] Sadly, she doesn't get the reference, and thinks he's hitting on her.

* ThisIsACompetition: The attitude of Patrick, who takes it all very very seriously:

* DawsonCasting: Nearly all the main actors are almost a decade older in real life than they characters they play.

* HollywoodNerd: Type 2 all over. If an [[{{Adorkable}} adorkable]] JamesMcAvoy and a somewhat [[BritishStuffiness stuffy]] BenedictCumberbatch are the geekiest looking persons on set, you probably should overthink the authenticity of your casting. [[NerdsAreSexy Unless of course you're trying to make a statement.]]

For as long as he can remember, working class Brian Jackson has craved knowledge and dreamed of going to university- and ultimately, appearing on ''UniversityChallenge''. He finally achieves all of these things when, against everyone's expectations (including his own), he is accepted at [[UsefulNotes/BritishUnis The University of Bristol]] and makes the 1985 ''UniversityChallenge'' team. With things going so well for Brian, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

* {{Adorkable}}: Brian

* DeadpanSnarker: Rebecca

* FirstGirlWins: Brian ends up with [[spoiler: Rebecca, who he met a party before Alice]]

* InformedJudaism: Rebecca and her family are "secular Jewish non-Zionist socialists" so don't really do much in the way of Judaism
* JumpedAtTheCall: Brian when he finally spots the poster advertising the ''UniversityChallenge'' tryouts.

* MyBelovedSmother: Brian's mom is a mild example, mostly in that she's constantly trying to load him down with stuff when he's trying to leave the house

* ShoutOut: The song Brian's mates play every night, Music/{{Motorhead}}'s ''Ace of Spades'', was played by the band in ''TheYoungOnes'' episode "Bambi" - which was also about UniversityChallenge.

* SlobsVersusSnobs: Spencer and Patrick hate each other practically on sight.
** Additionally, the Queen's College Cambridge team is significantly more posh than the somewhat more rough around the edges Bristol team

* SoapboxSadie: Rebecca Epstein is apparently the champion of every left-wing cause imaginable at the University of Bristol