Trying to get into the U.K. Academy Awards, journalist Sidney (Pegg) brings a pig, who he claims is "Babe," on a leash. But his true identity is revealed, and he is kicked to the curb. After the show, he leaves the pig in his hotel room and crashes an after party... but things get out of hand, and Sidney ends up becoming a headline (for the wrong reasons).
However, his creativity / stupidity catches the eye of the editor of the American pop culture magazine Sharp, Clayton Harding (Bridges), who offers Sidney a job. But Sidney soon learns the magazine focuses on pleasing the celebs, specifically the clients of powerful publicist Eleanor Johnson (Anderson), which Sidney pisses off after their first meeting. His direct boss, Lawrence Maddox (Huston) isn't impressed with Sidney's attitude or opinions (especially his ability to alienate the celebs)... The celebs don't want to talk to him, including the attractive new actress Sophie Maes (Fox) who Sidney wants to impress. The only person who speaks to Sidney is co-worker Alison (Dunst), who hates him. Will he get the girl? Will he ever get a story?
My soul hurts. I expected much more than this...
I saw previews of this film, and it looked entertaining... plus it has Simon Pegg, how bad could it be? Without any knowledge about the film, or the memoir it is based on, I made the decision to watch this film...mostly because Pegg was in it. Pegg had yet to steer me wrong, from the feature films he co-wrote / starred in ("Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz," and "Run, Fat Boy, Run") to the TV shows / mini-series that came before the films ("Spaced" and "Asylum"). His collaborations with director Edgar Wright and Nick Frost topped the charts, but overall I was still entertained with his comedies...
I'm not sure what went wrong... The cast is o.k., but none of the characters are particularly likable. Eventually you like Sidney, and you are supposed to like Alison, but the rest of the cast is too far removed or too obnoxious to be entertaining. There are funny moments here and there... like the opening sequence and killing the Chihuahua, and some nice moments, but overall Sidney stretches your patience. I think a different actor could have made the character work, but Pegg wasn't the right choice.
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) 110 minutes
Rating: R for language, some graphic nudity and brief drug material.
Director: Robert B. Weide
Starring: Simon Pegg as Sidney Young
Kirsten Dunst as Alison Olsen
Jeff Bridges as Clayton Harding
Danny Huston as Lawrence Maddox
Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Johnson
Megan Fox as Sophie Maes
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