High Fidelity [DVD] [2000]

Rob Gordon is going through a pretty rough break-up, and he has no idea how to deal with it. He tries to play it cool and like it's really nothing, but it doesn't work. He talks to the camera, very much like Wayne in "Wayne's World," and reveals all of his worst break-ups and other information. He also owns a record store and has the "musical moron twins" work for him. They don't make the break-up process any easier. Oh yeah, he constantly makes Top 5 Lists of almost anything that comes to mind.

Then one day, Rob gets a fantastic idea. Why not call all of those top 5 women who broke up with him and see what happened? To his surprise, he finds out that some of the break-ups had nothing to do with him, or that he is no longer interested in them. He feels better, and they feel better. (Well, actually it's him who feels better the most, but who's counting?) All of this is a setup for one hillarious comedy about life, relationships, and yes, music.

The acting is great in the movie, and is what makes it work really well. John Cusack is outstanding in the role as Rob Gordon. Jack Black is hillarious and outrageous as the cold and sarcastic Barry, who doesn't make Gordon's life any easier (one of Jack Black's best roles and performances). Other players include Lisa Bonet, Joelle Carter, Joan Cusack, Todd Louiso, Lili Taylor, and many MANY more. They all do their parts justice.

The DVD is pretty neat as well. Not the best, but not the worst as well. There's a fine amount of extras, including conversations with writer/producer John Cusack and Director Stephen Frears, deleted scenes, and the theatrical trailer. The movie is presented in 5.1 Dolby Digital and Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 (which is enhanced for 16x9 TVs). If you have read the book and are a little bummed out that a lot of the funny stuff didn't make the movie, then try the deleted scenes. Chances are they are there. I really think most of them should've been left in. (Especially the part where Rob goes to buy a record collection from a vengeful wife who wants to sell them to him for a very VERY cheap price.)

"High Fidelity" is a hillarious ride into the mind of a guy. It's a great film filled with humor and brutal honesty. It's got a look and feel of its own, and that's what makes it all work. If you're looking for a great comedy that's smart and funny, this is the one for you.

John Cusack plays Rob Gordon, a pretty normal guy who happens to be living in an emotional bubble - and it has just burst. His girlfriend of the past two years, Laura (Iben Hjejle) has just left him, triggering a sort of early midlife crisis in his life. Rob doesn't like change. He runs a record shop with the help of two guys even weirder than he is - Dick (Todd Louiso), a shy, bumbling, Moby-like guy and Barry (Jack Black), who never fails to entertain. The guys like to expound upon their musical knowledge, usually in the form of top five lists of everything. Rob has top five lists for everything, including his most traumatic breakups. He tries to pretend that his recent breakup with Laura isn't top five material, although it obviously is - especially when he learns she seems to have left him for Ian (Tim Robbins), the schmaltzy pseudo-loverboy upstairs. He simply must know why Laura dumped him, and that sends him down memory lane thinking about all of the other girls that dumped him through the years - going all the way back to junior high. Seeing some of these women again, including a beautiful yet shallow ex-flame played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, he gets a whole new perspective on life. Not completely, though, as he's still tearing his heart out over Laura and engaging in some activities that could be construed as harassing in nature.

For an ex-couple, he and Laura seem to stay in touch a great deal, as she's always coming over to get more of her stuff, calling him on the phone, etc. (For his part, Rob also spends an inordinate amount of time out in the pouring rain.) As time passes, Rob comes to evaluate his real feelings for Laura, even as he hopes to somehow get her back, and comes to know himself a lot better in the process. He never really figures things out, nor does he truly reinvent himself, but he matures. He's going to be OK - no matter how things work out with Laura in the end.

Basically, this is a romantic comedy for guys. For once, guys won't have to sleep through a sappy love story their better halves force them to watch; Rob is sort of speaking for guys as a whole here. There's plenty of dry, witty humor to keep you sustained, much of it supplied by Jack Black, and you might even find yourself wanting to watch the whole film over again. Plus, it features not one but two Bob Dylan tracks, so you know it must have something going for it.