History Boys

Here I am, back again! Never fear, I have been seeing movies but just not writing about them.

So, History Boys. About a bunch of 18ish year old boys, doing their final term at some middle class boys school in the UK, trying to get into Oxford or Cambridge. I went to see this with Rosie only for the purposes of a good laugh and a bit of an escape on a Saturday afternoon and I was pleasantly surprised. Turns out it was translated from stage to screen, so it had that extra little dimension that I like so much. Some reviews said this didn't translate well, and granted, there were aspects that didn't.

Not much surprising plot wise - there is a pretty boy, a gay boy, a couple of gay teachers and some miscellaenous other students - stupid joke, alternative dude etc etc. It's about their interactions were surprisingly human and I think a refreshing change from the way you usually see boys that age portrayed on screen. These guys were actually human, altho still obviously 18 year old boys.

I suppose the gay angle was a bit surprising, as was the way the issue of one of the teachers occasionally um, hitting on his students was handled, But it was all dealt with in a way that I found it strangely easy to accept, if not easy to believe. All topped off with some amusing performances (i saw 'amusing' not 'great' because some of them, especially the headmaster, were a bit 'stagey') and fitting music.

There is a bit of a coda at the end that seemed a little unnecessary, and I think this is where reviewers before me have taken exception. Totally forgiveable in my opinion though. This is a surprising, funny and sometimes genuinely emotional film.

7.5 out of 10