Having read and enjoyed the book, I'm afraid I was fairly disappointed with the adaptation. They've removed a lot of the bleak stuff that makes the book funny, and upped the schmaltz factor. Maybe they thought that this would appeal more to American audiences, but whereas the humour in the book is more akin to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Office" - where you cringe as you're laughing - they've tried to turn the film into a university version of "Love Actually".
They've made the character of Brian far more sympathetic. He has his faults in the book - he can be insensitive, selfish and tactless, but you still root for him. In the film, he is now more of a victim of circumstance.
And another major problem is that Rebecca Hall is completely miscast as Rebecca. In the book, the character is a complete contrast to Alice: a short, dark, aggressive, Jewish Scot. Here she and Alice are like interchangeable Barbie dolls: one blonde, one brunette. So Brian ultimately has to choose between two identically leggy posh girls. Oh - and she's too old as well!
Having said that, Benedict Cumberbatch is great, and the "University Challenge" recreation spot on, with a fantastically accurate performance from Mark Gatiss as Bamber.
Ultimately, though, the film feels inconsequential and a bit pointless. An original and entertaining novel has been fed into the Hollywood sausage machine and come out far the worse for it. Go and read the book instead would be my advice...
They've made the character of Brian far more sympathetic. He has his faults in the book - he can be insensitive, selfish and tactless, but you still root for him. In the film, he is now more of a victim of circumstance.
And another major problem is that Rebecca Hall is completely miscast as Rebecca. In the book, the character is a complete contrast to Alice: a short, dark, aggressive, Jewish Scot. Here she and Alice are like interchangeable Barbie dolls: one blonde, one brunette. So Brian ultimately has to choose between two identically leggy posh girls. Oh - and she's too old as well!
Having said that, Benedict Cumberbatch is great, and the "University Challenge" recreation spot on, with a fantastically accurate performance from Mark Gatiss as Bamber.
Ultimately, though, the film feels inconsequential and a bit pointless. An original and entertaining novel has been fed into the Hollywood sausage machine and come out far the worse for it. Go and read the book instead would be my advice...