Dealing with a romantic breakup is easily one of the most painful experiences in the world. The fact that it happens over and over in life makes it one of humanity's cruelest jokes. Fortunately, the human soul is quite resilient, and High Fidelity shows that the heartaches that made us cry every day for a month can eventually make us laugh.
Rob Gordon, the character John Cusack plays here could easily be Lloyd Dobler (of Say Anything...) ten years later. He's still quite earnest, polite and likable, even if his views on romance are perhaps a little too hopeful. Sure, Lloyd got the girl at the end of Say Anything, but if you think those two are still together after over ten years, perhaps you are missing the theme High Fidelity offers.
Breakups happen; they happen often. While a guy may be at the peak of happiness, the whole thing could be yesterday's news by early next week. Dating is a landmine, and those who survive it grow scars and callouses that can only be expressed through painful (and usually bitter) introspection.
After his most recent breakup, Rob begins to reassess his romantic life. He starts to re-categorize his album collection. (Not alphabetically or chronologically, but autobiographically! This way he can tell who he bought the record for, where he was at that stage in his life, and which specific heartbreak each song references. It would be sad if it weren't so funny.) Rob even has his breakups listed, in top-5 fashion, most painful at the top.
In an effort to cleanse himself of his 'romantic loser' status, he goes about contacting his earlier lovers to see exactly what it was that doomed these relationships. He also spends a lot of time at his record store, debating obscure pop songs with his two music-snob employees. (These scenes seem more like filler between the romantic subplots, but there are numerous funny exchanges in the record store.)
Although High Fidelity utilizes the "main character talking at the audience" trick (early and often), it actually helps the movie. We feel like we're watching Rob's Romantic Confessional, and since many of his memories are familiar to most of us, it works. (Add to that the fact that it's John Cusack doing the talking, which is a large help. He's as reliably human and desperately funny as he usually is.)
Many familiar dating clichés are examined here: The proper way to make a mix tape for a girl, how a freshly dumped guy is absolutely certain that his former lover is definitely now having the best sex of her life (only with someone new), and the truly pathetic acts a man will withstand for just one more chance.
It's an honest movie also, as Rob explains to us how perhaps he ruined things on his own, thanks to some unthinking and downright selfish acts. It's not a move you'll see from a likable protagonist too often, but here the honest approach works.
Tim Robbins is smugly amusing as Ian, the competition to Rob reconciling with his most recent love. Joan Cusack, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet and Lili Taylor also acquit themselves well in small but realistically fascinating people. It's Cusack's show all the way though, and he holds the movie together just fine. (Even with all that talking at the screen he does.)
The script covers the "old girlfriend" ground quite capably, and there are quite a few standout laugh scenes also. (I was particularly impressed by the Ian-dream sequence.) Plenty of familiar actors show up, mainly as ex-girlfriends, and most of them add something solid to the movie. Catherine Zeta-Jones is perfectly cast as Rob's perfect ex, although he (of course) becomes a little disillusioned when he meets up with her again.
You've heard the phrase "It's funny because it's true"? That's what makes High Fidelity succeed. I've been in Rob's shoes, as has every guy I've ever known. Having these dirty secrets revealed is certainly cathartic for Rob, but maybe for the average movie-watching 'guy' also. The fact that these uncomfortable and painful relation stories are experienced universally makes me feel a little more normal, a little more like Lloyd Dobler.
DVDS. A man discovers that there's more to love than a good mixed tape in this dramatic {\comedy} about music and relationships. {%Rob} ({$John Cusack...More at DeepDiscount.com
A male-perspective confessional about being an adult--but not acting like one--HIGH FIDELITY is the story of Rob Gordon John Cusack the thirtysomethin...More at Family Video
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