23 October 2008
How To Lose Friends and Alienate People
Review
by Jason Di Rosso
Simon Pegg plays an English journo headhunted by a New York high society gossip magazine. He thinks he's been hired for his sarcastic wit but, within weeks, free French champagne, invites to the best parties, and pushy editors have totally muddled his bullshit detector.
Soon he's writing sycophantic raves for talentless directors and actors. A solid cast has Jeff Bridges as the magazine boss and Kirsten Dunst, yet again, playing the thinking man's tottie. I feel I've seen a bit too much of Pegg in some not very funny films recently, but his fish out of water works well. American celebrity culture and showbiz hype seen through his bloodshot eyes is a vulgar comedy spectacle that's more hit than miss.
Director: Robert B. Weide
Cast: Simon Pegg, Megan Fox, Kirsten Dunst, Danny Huston, Jeff Bridges, Gillian Anderson, Margo Stilley
Producer: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley
Script: Peter Straughan, Toby Young
Cinematographer: Oliver Stapleton
Editor: David Freeman
Music: David Arnold
Running time: 110
Australian distributor: Paramount
Language: English
Classification: M
