LuckyWillHOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE - Ironically Popular
November 3rd 2008 15:08
The inspiration for the novel came when the British journo, Young, was excommunicated by the American magazine, Vanity Fair, despite not long being rescued from anonymity in London. He subsequently witnessed the steady demise of his once promising career until all employment opportunities had completely evaporated. During this time he witnessed the true face of evil in the entertainment industry and grew to despise it, using this hatred to fuel his creativity.
The title ‘How to Lose Friends and Alienate People’ is in itself satirical, making reference to a popular 1936 self-help novel by Dale Carnegie titled ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ as a means of highlighting the misguided ideals of contemporary Hollywood journos. It now has become a fact of life that if you aren’t trying to win friends and influence those around you, then you become an object of aversion and ridicule yourself.
The 2008 film adaptation stars Simon Pegg as the ambitious Sidney Young who is plucked from his over crowded, penniless little magazine in London to become the protégé of Clayton Harding (Jeff Bridges) a powerful American media mogul. Though he is forced to work his way up from the bottom, his outlandish behaviour and rebellious attitude soon sees him draw the attention of all those around him. Unfortunately this never seems to benefit his cause and Young is repeatedly cautioned and threatened with expulsion from the magazine. Of course, Young doesn’t see the problem with disrespecting celebrities; drinking excessively or hiring transsexual strippers for office meetings despite the best efforts of his straight shooting counterpart Alison Olsen (Kirsten Dunst) to talk him out of it.
Then one day he meets the stunning young actress Sophie Maes, played by Megan Fox, who captivates his, (and the audiences) attention when she provocatively wades through a swimming pool in a particularly revealing dress. Agent Scully (Gillian Anderson) has opted for a more mainstream occupation in this film to become PR Agent Johnson and now manages celebrities instead of aliens. Upon their meeting she informs Sidney that if he ever wants to get closer to his dream girl, Maes, he must conform to writing preapproved puff pieces about her clients or risk exile to anonymity forever.
Young must then choose between a life of success or creative control; Sophie Maes or Alison Olsen. Each girl represents the potential reward behind the respective lifestyles on offer. Sophie Maes attends all the big parties and has all the fun, but Alison believes in her work and they support one another’s creative endeavours.
The film is quite funny, insightful and enjoyable to watch. The actors perform their roles as best could be expected but I prefer Pegg in his more outlandish comedies like ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and ‘Hot Fuzz.’ The comedy duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in these films is fascinating and hilarious to watch and I found myself wishing that he would be somehow involved. However, I am yet to see a Simon Pegg film that I haven't enjoyed and this doesn't defy that trend.
‘How to Lose Friends and Alienate People’ is as long as its title suggests but there is always something to keep you entertained along the way and it leaves you feeling satisfied and amused at the end.
Rating: 4 conceited celebrities/ 5
By Will
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