HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE

UK, 2008, 111 minutes, Colour.
Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Danny Huston, Gillian Anderson, Megan Fox, Jeff Bridges, Miriam Margolyes, Bill Paterson, Max Minghella, Janette Scott, Thandie Newton.
Directed by Robert Weide.

This satirical film has been adapted (or based on without reproducing the plot and themes exactly) from a book by Toby Young about his journalistic ambitions in London and his opportunity to fulfil them in New York. Actually, his ambitions are far less exalted. He wanted it all: the easy good time, the wealth, the glamour and the glitter, being seen with celebrities in the public eye and writing, mainly gossip (and invention) in a glossy magazine. He does all this, of course, but at what price? And, can it last? In real life, with bluff and no shame, it probably could, but this kind of film is one of those morality stories where you have your cake, eat it and then move to a higher plain where such cake can be looked down on.

A lot of the film is bright and breezy and there some very funny bits.

However, we are taken into the world of gossip columnists and paparazzi where the pinnacle of achievement is to have written a cover story of about 2000 words that remains in the public eye until the next issue is published. This is the ephemeral achievement of having done that and, therefore, been there, with the strong possibility that that is it.

Simon Pegg is quite convincing as Sidney Young, the well-educated (but that does not matter) son of a prominent philosopher (but that is far too serious) who behaves like a magazine world Austin Powers (manic, say whatever comes into your head - his analysis of the art of Con Air is worth hearing - dance as vigorously as you can and presume that you are absolutely right about everything and there is no need to worry about tomorrow). We see him trying to gatecrash parties, talk to Thandie Newton herself as if he were a top producer, spy on the well-known and then, almost inexplicably, be invited to New York to work on the magazine of his dreams by its editor, Jeff Bridges, doing his executive variation of Lebowski.

Danny Huston is very effective and all too credible as his smarmy boss. Gillian Anderson is also good as a dominating, no holds-barred-if-it-promotes-my-client agent. Megan Fox is the star she manages who is up to doing anything required for publicity. (She is up for an award in a highly-fictionalised (!) film of Mother Teresa's vocation, The Making of a Saint which we see glimpses and posters of and, if we stay for the final credits, see the complete hilariously irreverent trailer!)

But, it is Kirsten Dunst as Sidney's co-worker who brings an element of reality into his life even though she herself has her own problems. She is quietly charming and reminds us of how pleasing an actress she can be.

If you want to risk spending time in this phony world and its worldliness, there is enough humour and good performances to see you through. But, as the Danny Huston character reminds us, not everybody sees the light to do the good and right thing.

1.An entertaining comedy, satire, introduction to the world of journalism, gossip, celebrity?

2.The UK origins of the film, the real-life experiences of Toby Young and his book? British humour? Transported to the US?

3.The contrast between London and New York, the two capital cities of gossip and information? Similarities, contrast? The world of magazines, the modest British Post Modern Review, the contrast with American Sharps? The offices, lavish, hotels? The contrast with dingy apartments? The range of parties and functions, awards ceremonies?

4.The musical score, the songs?

5.The title, its reference to Sidney and his dreams being dashed? Success and failure?

6.The British magazine, small, the bickering staff, Sidney and his gatecrashing parties, his interviews, behaviour, the agents getting rid of him? Continually being unmasked? Ousted? His talk, patter, crass?

7.The framework of the film: the awards, the actress and her hopes, the table with the guests, Sidney’s voice-over and the seeming fulfilment? The flashbacks? The experience in London, in the US, his faux pas, mistakes? The ceremony and the visual parody of the film about Mother Teresa? With the Hollywood bimbo?

8.Sidney in himself, his background, his father’s arrival and the revelation that he was a philosopher and a professor? Sidney’s academic background – but his squandering his education? Sidney and his relationships? The call from Clayton Harding, the opportunity to go to Sharps? The possibilities? His agenda – living it up, parties, gossip, meeting celebrities? His interview with Clayton Harding, overestimating himself, Harding putting him in his place? The dingy apartment, the noise, the landlady and her attitudes, discussions? Settling in – after going out dancing?

9.Sidney as a party animal, forever going out, meeting people, drinking, dancing? The encounter with the transvestite – and the consequences in inviting him as a striptease for the office party – on Children’s Day? His lacking in self-consciousness and awareness?

10.Clayton Harding, modelled on editors of Vanity Fair and magazines? His look, authority, yet his past in his anti-authoritarian behaviour? His putting Sidney in his place? Talking about the rungs in the workplace? Letting Sidney research? His relationship with the staff? With Lawrence Maddox? People excusing Sidney’s behaviour because he was British? Eleanor and her relationship with the editor, getting approval, setting up interviews, reading the copy? Sidney and his antagonism towards this attitude? His wanting to interview the director – changing his mind, accommodating him? The finale and the fight with Sophie Maes and the ring? Harding laughing?

11.Alison, in the bar, waiting, writing her novel, Sidney chatting her up? Her exasperation? Seeing him in the office? Her levelheadedness, her jobs, doing her work, keeping out of the limelight? Her helping Sidney, excusing him for being British? The continued help, the ease with which they worked together yet her criticisms, her thinking that Sidney was a fool? Her relationship with Lawrence Maddox, Sidney’s being aghast? The break? Her fondness for Sidney? Changing and supporting him?

12.The other members of the staff, Sidney’s behaviour, at staff meetings, his suggestions, lack of self-awareness?

13.Lawrence Maddox, Danny Huston’s style? His wife and her position? His place in the company? His attitudes, at meetings, his arrogance? The relationship with Alison, credible? The break? Sidney and his taunting him? His moving to the other company? His wife and her reaction? The satire and portrait of this kind of executive and his self-importance?

14.Eleanor, the haughty agent, with Sophie Maes? Pressures, control, in the magazine, her personality, her controlling the actress? Her disdain for Sidney? The change of mind, discussions with him? The interview with the director – and Sidney’s attitude, her censoring the work? Finally relating well to Sidney – at the table for the awards?

15.The young director, pretentious, the interview – and the film’s poking fun at this kind of self-confident arrogant young man?

16.The bimbo, her interest in Sidney, his lust for her – and giving her his mother’s ring? Her career, interviews, empty-headed? Controlled by Eleanor? Waiting for the award? Mother Teresa? Sidney grabbing the ring back from her and creating chaos?

17.Sidney and a bit of self-awareness, discovery of the truth about people’s behaviour, setting himself up for celebrities and dishonesty? A possible future? Dancing with Alison – and the background of La Dolce Vita?

18.The satire, the spoof, the caricatures of people in the publishing business, of celebrities, of agents? Yet the film relishing all of these: having its cake and eating it at the same time?