It’s not rip-roaringly funny. It won’t make anyone cry, and it probably won’t win any Oscars.
Even so, “High Fidelity” is the best movie in the theaters right now.
Based on Nick Hornby’s 1995 bestseller, “High Fidelity” is a glimpse into the strange, secretive world that is a man’s head.
John Cusack plays Rob Gordon, a confused 35-year-old music store owner who, after getting dumped by his long-time girlfriend (Iben Hjejle) for the guy upstairs (Tim Robbins), struggles to come to terms with life’s most baffling issue: love. His self-examination takes place through narration using the rarely effective, talking-to-the-camera style, but it works surprisingly well.
After the breakup, Rob seeks refuge in the company of store employees Barry (Jack Black) and Dick (Todd Louiso). The three music junkies spend their days harassing unknowledgeable customers and discussing pop culture, passionately debating their top-five lists for everything imaginable (top five first-track songs on first albums, top five songs about death, etc.).
Meanwhile, Rob takes the audience through his top five most memorable breakups as he tries to figure out where he’s gone wrong in his life. Starting with his first kiss, Rob painfully, yet hilariously, recalls the mistakes he made with all the women in his life, exposing his faulty thought processes.
Besides the amusing account of Rob’s life, which reveals almost too much about the male brain, a good reason to see this movie is the comedic performance of Jack Black, lead singer of “mock rock” heroes Tenacious D. His John Belushi-esque comic energy perfectly complements his character’s slightly crazed, condescending,rock-star-wannabe personality.
The more obvious reason to see “High Fidelity” is the underrated but always brilliant John Cusack, who co-authored the script. Cusack pulls you in with his sob story and then slowly reveals that he is usually to blame for his shortcomings. But by then, it’s too late because you’re already pulling for this middle-aged adulthood-dodger.
Armed with great acting, a smart script that nicely translates the book and a knockout soundtrack, this slice-of-life comedy is one of those movies that will leave you eagerly awaiting its home video release. It won’t quite make the top five movies of all time list but is satisfying nonetheless.