Movie Review: How To Lose Friends And Alienate People

Whilst casually lounging around the house on Monday it became apparent there wasn’t much to do. Luckily my girlfriend had the solution, rent a film! I’ve been using LoveFilm for a month or so now, but I had sent my latest rental back in the post. So off to Blockbusters we went.

Without going into the boring details of how the film was chosen, we both comprimised on How To Lose Friends And Alienate People. Basically the latest in a long line of ‘the best British comedy since…’ flick, and it wasn’t. There’s nothing wrong with the film per se, just not the best British comedy I’ve seen…not by a long shot.

Starring the Brit cult favourite Simon Pegg and the unashamedly chirpy Kirsten Dunst, it is the story of a journalist (Pegg) apparently finding success from his underground low circulation magazine in London to one of the top celebrity magazines in New York. However the super-stardom of celebrity writing isn’t as glamourous as he first thought, having to work by a new set of rules – which doesn’t go down well.

One of the co-worker’s though is Dunst, who doesn’t really add much to the role. Pegg does seem to have done his research on the role and how journalists act, talk and generally live their lives. Dunst seems to have walked out of make-up, onto the set and given some lines.

It doesn’t take long to realise that both will have a love interest in each other but will have to overcome many obstacles to get there. There are many funny moments along the way, but it is a film capable of much more. The idea is there but it seems as though the film is severely lacking in substance. At times some of the jokes are all too predictable and it feels like you’re watching a teen comedy, not a  true Brit comedy classic.

Pegg should have stuck to writing his own material, not acting out someone’s memoirs. The likes of Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz are much better examples of British comedies, this film just doesn’t come up to scratch in terms of quality.

Rating: 3/5