How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

03 November, 2008
by: City Spoonfed

Based on the atypical novel by Toby Young, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People crudely attempts to bridge the gap between American upper-crust society and snobbish British culture. Sidney Young, the editor of a British magazine and a patriot at heart, is lured to the Big Apple to become an almost microscopic part of the prestigious 'Sharps' magazine. His main objectives appear to be to cause commotion in the workplace, seduce celebrities and irritate everyone else.

Simon Pegg's hysterical turns in Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz etc. make How To… an almost must-watch film. He's definitely amused our American counterparts, but just how high has the standard for comedies really been in 08? This isn't the best comedy in years, but a reasoned storyline is almost perfectly executed by the cast.

Jeff Bridges as editor of 'Sharps' performs tremendously as fun loving, tremendously vain Graydon Carter equivalent Clayton Harding. Gillian Anderson and particularly Megan Fox give surprising comedy turns that suggest they could walk into a Legally Blonde sequel. Bill Paterson as Sydney's academic dad also raises many a laugh while Max Minghella enjoys himself as a typically stereotyped rock star with some great lines.

The development of Pegg's character from un-likeable, egotistic, boisterous schmuck, to audience favourite is smoothly handled. Hardly surprising given that majority of us have managed to develop a culture of hatred towards our bosses/colleagues.

All in all a good laugh and though only recommended as a one-time film, it's still well worth the ticket. Knockabout, lightweight but consistently amusing, How To Lose Friends won't change your life but it is worth seeing.

Vaibhavi Joshi

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