Countdown to Thirteen: St. Trinian’s (2007, PG-13)

This was a movie I’d heard of before but knew very little about.  Mainly, I’d just known it from seeing its name on the IMDb pages for assorted cool British actors who were in it, like Colin Firth and Stephen Fry.  Which, in itself, was certainly enough to recommend it when it came to Countdown to Thirteen viewing.

Annabelle has just been dropped off by her father at St. Trinian’s, the girls’ school ostensibly run by her aunt, Miss Fritton.  In truth, the school is largely run by the wild students, who arrange themselves into pack-like cliques and engage in numerous enterprises that don’t involve academics.  Regarded as one of the worst schools in Britain, St. Trinian’s is hounded by both a determined minister of education looking to make an example of them and dire financial straits that threaten its closure.  To combat the latter difficulty, the girls put their smarts and skills toward a radical solution:  securing the necessary funds by stealing a Vermeer from the British Museum.

The humor can be a little dumb in places, overly broad and meandering, but on the whole, it’s pretty enjoyable.  The set-up, with the tween/teen girl ecosystem (populated by Chavs, Posh Totties, Emos, etc.), gives off Mean Girls vibes, and once plans for the heist get underway, it’s very fun.  I enjoy watching these disparate groups of girls all coming together to execute this audacious multi-pronged plan.

Other than Firth (as the education minister,) Fry (playing himself,) and of course Jodie Whittaker (we’ll get to her in a moment,) the film is stuffed with familiar British faces.  The school’s head girl is played by Gemma Arterton, who had the title role in Tess of the D’Urbervilles, the first Whittaker project I reviewed for Countdown to Thirteen, and Annabelle is played by Talulah Riley, who was Rosa in the Masterpiece adaptation of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  Rupert Everett does double duty as Annabelle’s dad and her aunt, the headmistress Miss Fritton – it’s a bit panto, but it mostly works.  St. Trinian’s teachers include the likes of Toby Jones, Lena Heady (Cersei Lannister,) and Fenella Woolgar, who I’ll always remember best as Agatha in Bright Young Things.  Additionally, Anna Chancellor (former Caroline Bingley!) plays one of Firth’s associates and Lucy Punch (the terrific Esme Squalor on A Series of Unfortunate Events) plays his daughter.  All in all, packed with British goodness.

Whittaker has a small but entertaining role as Beverly, the school’s can’t-be-bothered secretary.  She’s usually to be found either ignoring the latest guest to the school or offering both uppers and downs to anyone she thinks could use them.

Seeing Whittaker in this role makes a lot of sense after having watched her in Venus.  This part is more of a broad comic-relief character in the background, but personality-wise, Beverly is cut from a similar cloth as Jessie.  She’s tacky and entitled, copping attitude as she barely bothers to do work – I can see how a producer, watching Whittaker in Venus, might think to cast her in this role shortly after.  She only pops up from time to time, but she always brings a laugh or two.

Accent Watch

Northern.

Recommend?

In General – I think so.  It starts off a bit iffy, but it’s ultimately a pretty entertaining film, especially once the heist stuff gets rolling.

Jodie Whittaker – Yeah.  Whittaker makes the most of this small role.

Warnings

Violence (including a scene of violence against an animal,) sexual content, language, and drinking/smoking/drug use.