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High Fidelity Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 81 Reviews)

Doesn't capture the book's wittiness
The movie High Fidelity has gained a cult status similar to that of the book by Nick Hornby while being an above average romantic comedy. Without capturing the wittiness of its source material, as the more recent Hornby adaptation of About a Boy (2002) does, there are good reasons for its acclaim.

First, versatile director Stephen Frears (Mrs. Henderson Presents, Dirty Pretty Things) has given the movie a nice throwback feel, befitting of a story about a record store owner, John Cusack's Rob, whose girlfriend leaves him because he hasn't changed since they first met. Second, Cusack plays the kind of character we enjoy seeing him in, even if he's a cliché in this role. Third, the movie has a wonderfully eccentric supporting cast. Jack Black and Todd Luiso as Rob's store employees are spot-on. Same goes for Lisa Bonnet (Lisa Bonnet?!), Tim Robbins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The filmmakers found a gem to play the object of Rob's pining, Laura, in the lovely Danish actress, Iben Hjejle. Since she isn't well-known to American audiences, she doesn't bring baggage to her role as foil to the idiosyncratic main character.

The movie, like the book, is less concerned with plot than with elucidating the single male and reluctant grown-up psyche. Appreciatively in the book this is done from a most clever and perceptive male point-of-view. However, the movie should have been more plot-driven. As it is, it moves too slowly, which is not helped by Cusack's nearly nonstop talking to the camera. High Fidelity is a good movie, but savor the book.


This Is A Male Version Of A Chick Movie
Nah, don't get bent out of shape, I liked this movie fine, but it just is. Sure it had Jack Black, more cussing than a sailor's convention, was set in a run-down vintage record store, had great music, a cameo by The Boss, and some bitingly dead-on dissing courtesy of Tim Robbins, but this was way too cerebral and emotionally-fueled not to invite comparisons to the sort of films that get deliberately targeted at women. Think about it, it's all dialogue-driven, the main character, well-played by Cusack, does nothing but talk, talk, talk, as he agonizes over every relationship he's ever had, which he can break down and list in order of pain and regret, and it centers around the one person he is convinced he loves. It's got all the makings of a brilliant chick flick!

Good movie, but savor the book
High Fidelity has a throwback feel, which versatile director Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things) has fashioned nicely. This movie is after all about a thirtysomething male who hasn't changed much since college, uses a rotary telephone, and owns a record shop. Oh, yeah, and is there an actor more throwback than John Cusack?

Cusack fans will undoubtedly enjoy this movie. As perfect as his boyish charm and hangdog expressions is for the character of Rob, this is a very familiar role for the actor such that it feels cliché. A relief for anyone who loves the book is the movie's superb casting. Jack Black and Todd Luiso as Rob's record store employees are spot-on. Same goes for Lisa Bonnet (Lisa Bonnet?!) as a musician with whom Rob has a fling, Tim Robbins as his nemesis Ian, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as his ex Charlie. The filmmakers found a gem to play the object of his pining, Laura, in the lovely Danish actress, Iben Hjejle. Since she isn't well-known to American audiences, she doesn't bring baggage to her role as foil to the idiosyncratic main character.

High Fidelity is an above average romantic comedy thanks to the wonderful book by Nick Hornby upon which it is based. The movie, like the book, is less concerned with plot than with elucidating the single male psyche. Appreciatively, this is done from a most clever and perceptive male point-of-view. However, the movie should have been more plot-driven. It moves a little too slowly. And Cusack's nearly nonstop talking to the camera doesn't help matters. High Fidelity is a good movie, but savor the book.

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