Top 5 Movie Pet Peeves:
1. Talking to the camera.
2. Bad Acting
3. Bad Soundtracks
So maybe I don't really have 5, but the main character talking to the camera just never seems to work. Fortunately, High Fidelity is able to pull it off - and quite well. Starring the ever-loveable John Cusack (Rob Gordon) in his usual 'loser with the girls' character, Hi-Fi features hilarious characters and scenes that almost everyone can connect with.
Back to the top 5 movie pet peeves - 2 and 3 - acting and soundtracks this movie pulls off with great skill. John and Joan Cusack are both great in this movie and Iben Hjejle, making her American movie debut, is perfect as Laura, Rob's girlfriend on the verge of dumping him for the guy upstairs (Tim Robbins). As for the soundtrack, an eclectic mix of classics with newer songs, there's something for everyone and seemed to be a great crowd pleaser.
As for the plot itself, it basically centers around Rob's former girlfriends, current girlfriend and his record store. Throw in his two counterparts at Championship Vinyl, Barry (Jack Black) and Dick (Todd Louiso), and all the store scenes are hilarious. The interactions/discussions between Barry, Dick, and Rob are simply genius even though I really didn't understand most of what they were talking about (except for the Evil Dead 2 reference).
Once you get over the fact that the movie needs the addressing of the camera to survive (although I'm sure Cusack and director Frears could have come up with another inventive way of explaining his past life), you'll find High Fidelity to be a warming, funny, and easy to relate to romantic comedy (more comedy than romance, but heck, there's still a little romance). High Fidelity is sure to please all in attendance and give something for everyone to relate to in Cusack's romantic misdealings.
