Dutch Girls

The main fascination with this film is seeing various now-famous actors in their younger days. A schoolboy hockey team travel to the Netherlands on a hockey tour, but are more interested in Dutch girls and have various escapades.

They're supposed to be at school - I think it's mentioned that Colin Firth's character is 17 - but all the actors are in their late twenties and frankly easily look thirty or more. Which added to the amusement factor for me.

You can see why Colin Firth got cast as Darcy from this movie. He has a dignity and intensity that sets him apart. It's a shame Daniel Chatto eventually quit acting as he's pretty good.

Timothy Spall's character is probably the most memorable element - his behaviour is implausibly appalling, at times he displays literally cover-your-face cringe-level rudeness and boorishness - but hilarious nonetheless. He's excellent value.

It's set in 1985 so there's plenty of nostalgia value here. The disco was pretty wince-making, especially the dancing. Yes - people did dance like that in the 80s UK in a lame, awkward way at youth club discos and so on.

Highly recommended, anyway. I wouldn't say it was a classic but it's definitely a gem.