What came first the music or the misery, opines typical cynical single guy Rob Gordon to open “High Fidelity.”
Set amidst the immense scrapes in the beautiful city of Chicago sometime in the 1990s, “High Fidelity” stars John Cusack as the owner of a record store called Championship Vinyl, who is never able to make relationships with women work.
Breaking the Fourth Wall throughout, Rob narrates to us as he relives his top 5 breakups of all time in effort to determine how it is he is always failing at love. The top 5 theme is consistent with his duties at the record store where he and friends/employees (Jack Black, Todd Louiso) compile top five music lists for everything imaginable. Each of the men considers themselves something of a savant when it comes to music, belittling the poor taste of others and quizzing themselves on various obscure musical topics.
“High Fidelity” has an interesting concept and one that could only be born in the 1990s – yes it was released in 2000, but the flavor of the story, the style of the characters, and the nature of the setting itself embody that perfect final decade of the century. The genre of alternative music came about in the early 90s and the movie itself is presented like an alternative to a mainstream Hollywood production.
No one is better at the staring role than John Cusack, who offers humor and perfectly sharp narration in the role of Rob Gordon. Jack Black brings his obnoxious style of personality and humor to the mix, and the unheralded Todd Louiso is by far the winner when it comes to straight out laughter. Big names like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sara Gilbert, Tim Robbins, and even Bruce Springsteen add supporting elements.
“High Fidelity” offers a great trip down memory lane for those of us who wax nostalgia for the 90s, but I felt like the development was a bit slow and the film frankly boring at times. While laughs are in the mix from start to finish, Rob Gordon quickly goes from being a sympathetic character to a jerk once he starts exploring the reasons for his failed relationships.
Music is the soundtrack to our lives. No matter what the situation or occasion, or major event (good and bad) you are going through, there is always a song or a band or album that will be there to get you through. Most great memories can be triggered by nothing more than a song that was unknowingly accompanying you on the journey.
“High Fidelity” is a simple romantic comedy that’s just okay. It doesn’t stand out as one may think it should, and ends as a ho-hum also-ran.
by – Matt DeCristo
