How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
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Sidney is a disillusioned person who both adores and despises the world of celebrity, fame, glitz and the glamour. His magazine, Post Modern Review, Makes fun at the media obsessed stars and bucks trends, and so when Young is offered a job at the diametrically opposed conservative New York based Sharps magazine its something of a shock! It seems Sharps editor Clayton Harding is amused by Young's disruption of a post-BAFTA party with a pig posing as Babe.
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Rated:
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[ M ]
Coarse language, nudity, drug and sexual references
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Cinema release:
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23 Oct 2008
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Director:
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Robert B. Weide
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Running time:
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110 mins
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Stars:
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Simon Pegg, Megan Fox, Kirsten Dunst
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Links:
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Official Site
IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes
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What we say
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Charming romantic comedy
Realising how few people might pay to see a film about a bald, English, socially-anarchic narcissist who fails to make a career for himself in the heady world of New York publishing, the producers of "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" happened upon a clever idea.
After chucking the best anecdotes from Toby Young's bestselling memoir of his humiliation at "Vanity Fair" into the first half of the screenplay (and changing the names of everyone, as well as the title of the magazine), the producers cast Simon Pegg ("Run Fatboy Run") as "Sidney" Young in what turns out to be a moderately charming romantic comedy.
The result is something of a mixed bag for fans of Toby Young's writing, but it's littered with laughs as Sidney manages to offend everyone he should be endearing himself to. Along the way, he insults the most important publicist in New York (Gillian Anderson), pursues the sexual gratification of a rising celebrity with the allure of a mannequin (Megan Fox), falls in love with a more cerebral cultural affairs writer (Kirsten Dunst) and infuriates his editor-in-chief (Jeff Bridges).
"How to Lose" has been widely described as "The Devil Wears Prada" for boys. But "How to Lose" is more accurately "Devil" for anyone who takes delight in the vapidity of celebrity culture while deluding themselves into thinking they're better than the world they guiltily aspire to.
Directed by Robert Weide ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") the narrative stalls halfway through as the gags from the autobiography dry up and the romantic comedy takes over. But it must be impossible not to like Simon Pegg, even if he is playing a character based on the (self-described) "universally loathed" Toby Young.
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Find more info on How to Lose Friends and Alienate People with Bing Search
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What you say
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Add a review
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What you say
Gotta Love British Humour
 
If you liked Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz then I think this movie is for you. I enjoyed it because I thought those two movies were a hoot!! If you don't laugh at the "I killed Cuba" part then you have no sense of humour and should't bother watching any comedy movies again!
Emily
Melbourne, VIC
21 Nov 2008
great laugh
great movie great actor. i don't think it would appeal to old folks judging some of the comments, but everyone in the cinema watching it loved it.
Anonymous
Melbourn, VIC
12 Nov 2008
not as funny as i hoped
it certainly fell short of the humor from Simon Pegg's other pieces of work - Jeff Bridges' role was rushed and minimal - the romantic storyline never actually went anywhere, or rather I never felt for their relationship - overall it was good, but better for dvd
Anonymous
Sydney, NSW
10 Nov 2008
OH MY GOSH!
this is one of the FUNNIEST movies i have ever seen! what really gets you is the non-expecting humour. it starts off sort of bland, then once it gets into it, it gets really funny. i really do recommend it, but dont do what i did and take your little sister to it, its not really a kids movie..
Rachel
QLD
5 Nov 2008
Not overly funny
This film was more annoying and predictable than funny. Only got a couple of laughs out of this film. Wasn't worth paying to go to the cinema to watch it. Probably more suited for TV instead, as it's easier to change the channel!
Anonymous
Melbourne, VIC
4 Nov 2008
Up for a laugh
If you just want to relax and have a good laugh. This is made for you. There's enough drama in life to see more dramas. A feel good comedy.
Anonymous
Adelaide, SA
3 Nov 2008
Laughing constantly
I laughed and laughed and laughed as did everyone else in the cinema. No fart jokes, just gross political incorrectness and so well acted!
Salsa
Brisbane, NSW
29 Oct 2008
The title rings true!
This film is Absolute Garbage! It feels Like a PIlot for a TV show that never got made. The Plot is Thin. The performances and interactions/chemistry between characters is completely non existent. Whatever you do, don't waste your money on this!
Ralph
Melbourne, VIC
28 Oct 2008
Good laugh.
The critics review isn't particularly good, but personally I enjoyed the movie. I read the novel which was boring at times, but overall enjoyable. I agree that half way through the film the romantic side takes over, which I think really let the rest of the movie down. Should've skipped the romance and kept it more like the novel.
Some very funny parts,
I recommend it.
Michelle
Brisbane, QLD
26 Oct 2008
[Untitled]
well it is the funniest movie i have seen for a while loveeee the guy from run fatboy run hes hilarious loved it!
Katy:p
NSW
22 Oct 2008
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