High Fidelity Review

‘In this biting romantic comedy, Rob Gordon is the owner of a semi-failing record store in Chicago, where he sells music the old-fashioned way – on vinyl. However, when his long-time girlfriend, Laura, walks out on him, he examines his failed attempts at romance and happiness, and the process finds him being dragged, kicking and screaming, into adulthood.’

John Cusack is Gordon, a man whose love for ‘Top Five’ lists would probably set him right at home here at B**p. The film focuses mainly on his failed relationship with Laura, his most recent ex who he is determined to win back, but in order to do this he must first revisit the women from his five most painful break-ups.

Frankly, Gordon is a character who would be easy to dislike. About 75% of the film is total woman bashing, although never to the point where it’s quite unbearable (mostly due to how undeniably likable Cusack is in any context; I swear he’s impossible to hate) and towards to end it really starts to redeem itself. Jack Black appears as Barry, the type of person you would probably steer well clear of at a party, but, like Rob, he is made bearable by some good casting and Black’s natural likeability.

Despite its shaky start and questionable motifs, it’s generally an easy watch with one or two quite lovely bits that make it wholly worthwhile. There is a great deal of breaking the fourth wall from Cusack, which nears too much but never quite goes all the way to be annoying, and in the context it’s quite necessary. Overall, a good film which would be a must-watch for music fans, since the music content alone is merit-worthy, and it is on the whole acted very well.