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How To Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

Director: Robert B.Weide

Time Out rating

Average user rating

14 reviews

Synopsis

Conflicted British journo Sidney Young (Simon Pegg) used to poke fun at celebrity culture in his left-field London mag, but, now that he’s at glitzy glossy Sharps, he finds himself doing the unthinkable and falling for Hilton-esque starlet Sophie (Megan Fox). Kirsten Dunst and Gillian Anderson also star in this liberal adaptation of Toby Young’s recent bestseller.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Evening Standard restaurant critic and self-styled gobshite Toby Young has his experiences as contributing editor at Vanity Fair under Graydon Carter splayed inelegantly across the screen in this bland, old-fashioned and largely mirthless middlebrow Britcom. Some minor tweaks have been allowed for, so we have Simon Pegg as Sidney Young, working for Sharps magazine under Clayton Harding (Jeff Bridges). The film plays like a gender-reversed riff on ‘Bridget Jones’ and charts Sidney’s efforts to uphold his gawky principles in the high-rolling world of New York journalism. As empty-headed movie starlets and their no-shit publicists totter about the place, Sidney gawps sycophantically from the sidelines while his shy and quietly supercilious co-worker Alison (Kirsten Dunst) arches her eyebrows in constant bemusement.

For a film about upholding personal ideals, its glossy packaging and derivative ‘will he get the girl?’ narrative sell any credibility down the river in favour of affected screwball larks about transvestite strippers and dead chihuahuas. Add to that a tired idea of bumbling but lovable Brits abroad (The Hugh Grant Syndrome) and a lazy, antiquated depiction of journalism, and there isn’t much to trouble the intellect. Pegg turns the pratfall-o-meter up to 11 and, admittedly, makes the best of a bad situation, but his deadpan comic wiles aren’t sufficiently served by the weak material and limp direction. References to ‘La Dolce Vita’ and ‘Le Mépris’ only help to confirm what withering celebrity satires they are, and this isn’t.

Author: David Jenkins 2008-09-30 11:20:07

Time Out London Issue 1989: October 2 - 8

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User reviews of this film

Movie_Chickk_x said...

Posted on Nov 02 2008 14:57 Movie Was Complete And Utter Rubbish, The Trailers For The Film Looked Fab And Made The Film Seem Very Funny. But It Was So Boring And Slow.

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lauren said...

Posted on Oct 29 2008 14:52 im confused as to why all films have "to trouble the intellect."
- it was a light, fun film which was, superficially, enjoyable.

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darren said...

Posted on Oct 26 2008 23:25 I really enjoyed it. Simon Pegg did a great job!

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Jackolas n Sardale said...

Posted on Oct 25 2008 13:06 Mint... who's this kid above really???? ^^^
weasel

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Marla said...

Posted on Oct 24 2008 17:41 I saw it a couple of weeks ago and it's not worth the money. I really like Simon Pegg, Hot Fuzz and Shaun Of The Dead, but the cript just wasn't funny. I laughed about twice throughout. The book is funny, and I know the author, the film just hasn't got it.

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Stefan Bradley said...

Posted on Oct 19 2008 23:07 I watched a pirate copy of this film at home - I'm not saying it was bad but my cats were sick on the carpet. I should know a thing or two about acting cos my wife was in the Kwikfit advert in 1987.

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Siobhan said...

Posted on Oct 16 2008 22:01 my cousin is in this film :) x

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Sarah said...

Posted on Oct 15 2008 10:33 Me and my boyfriend went to see the film and both laughed all the way through, it's brilliant! I've never read the book but can't understand the negative reviews. i'd watch it again, tomorrow.

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adamg said...

Posted on Oct 14 2008 20:18 For what it's worth, Zed, the book was extremely funny and winningly, bravely honest. The film is a waste of time.

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perky said...

Posted on Oct 13 2008 18:41 crap

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Zeds dead but said...

Posted on Oct 07 2008 13:21 So long as you remember this is a light movie, it is not that bad. Some amusing moments. For what it's worth, the book was pretty average, with a few moments of hilarity, bit like the film. The pig was superb and out acted some of the actors on display.

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Caroline said...

Posted on Oct 06 2008 17:17 Really disappointing, I'd heard the book was hilarious but found the film very dull. Pegg's worst film in my opinion, Dunst is irritating as she seems to play exactly the same needy, girly, damaged character in every film. Not recommended.

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phil mk said...

Posted on Oct 05 2008 09:30 Simon Pegg was depicting an upper class Brit pretending to working class honesty and directness, and I suppose in that context the unpleasant, boorish behaviour was appropriate. I still found it difficult to like the character in any way. Kirsten Dunst looked pretty.

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Taslema said...

Posted on Feb 11 2008 20:03 simon pegg is a very funny guy, he is my favouriye actor. so is nick frost. i suppose they both should make films at all times.

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