~ Brash young American, Nick De Angelo [Rob Lowe], pays his way into Oxford University after winning a huge amount of cash at a Las Vegas gaming casino and getting his roommate [Chad Lowe] to push his name up the list. Having seen Lady Victoria [Amanda Pays] in celebrity magazines, he decides to study at Oxford in the hope of meeting her and winning her heart. Nick pursues her with a relentless arrogance, despite the fact that Victoria has a fiance, Colin Gilchrist [Julian Sands]; he makes few friends and a couple of serious enemies [Cary Elwes & Anthony Calf]. Not a good first impression. Another American student [Ally Sheedy] takes an instant liking to Nick, although her attentions are wasted on him, for he can see no further than the woman who will one day make him a gentleman. Nick wants to be a winner, not matter what the cost to those around him. He joins the rowing team, initially to impress Victoria with his skills as an oarsman [Colin is their star rower], but he finds discipline hard to master. Nick must eventually learn to take responsibilty - to develop character - or his time at Oxford will be short-lived ~

Rob Lowe starred in some of the most accomplished teen dramas of the 1980s, working with top directors [Coppola's THE OUTSIDERS; CLASS; THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE; YOUNGBLOOD; Schumacher's ST ELMO'S FIRE; Ed Zwick's ABOUT LAST NIGHT based on a play by David Mamet] and was set to become a big star. Oxford Blues is arguably his finest roll as a young actor. The film is a re-make of 'A Yank At Oxford' [1938], and Lowe fits into Robert Taylor's shoes with ease. He is a versatile actor who can work within a variety of genres and is currently enjoying a comeback with 'The West Wing', 'Salem's Lot' (TV), 'Austin Powers' and 'Thankyou for Smoking'.

Also stars Michael Gough, Bruce Payne, Alan Howard, Aubrey Morris and Julian Firth.

Soundtrack by John DuPrez [Modern Romance]

Matt Lee-Williams, Salisbury, United Kingdom, Review.