How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

A British writer struggles to fit in at a high-profile magazine in New York City.

Director:

Robert B. Weide

Writers:

Peter Straughan (screenplay), Toby Young (book)

Stars:

Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kelan Pannell	...	Young Sidney
Janette Scott	...	Sidney's Mother (archive footage)
Danny Huston	...	Lawrence Maddox
Simon Pegg	...	Sidney Young
Megan Fox	...	Sophie Maes
Gillian Anderson	...	Eleanor Johnson
Kelly Jo Charge	...	Apollo Awards Presenter
Christian Maier Smith	...	Apollo Awards Guest
Katherine Parkinson	...	PR Woman
Felicity Montagu	...	Clipboard Nazi
Thandiwe Newton	...	Thandie Newton (as Thandie Newton)
John Lightbody	...	Assistant Hotel Manager
Ian Bonar	...	Post Modern Review Staff
James Corden	...	Post Modern Review Staff
Fenella Woolgar	...	Post Modern Review Staff

Storyline

Sidney Young is a disillusioned intellectual who both adores and despises the world of celebrity, fame and glamor. His alternative magazine, "Post Modern Review", pokes 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 it's 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. Thus begins Sidney's descent into success - his gradual move from derided outsider to confidante of starlet Sophie Maes. Initially helping him out at Sharps is colleague Alison Olsen, who has her own secret. Wither their friendship?

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Plot Keywords:

co worker | bar | man wears underwear in public | woman wears black lingerie | woman wears underwear in public | 

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Taglines:

He's across the pond, and out of his depth

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some graphic nudity and brief drug material

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the montage of Sidney's name appearing on guest lists to parties and exclusive events, one of the names near Sidney's on a list is Oscar Wright, younger brother of Edgar Wright, who is a frequent collaborator of Simon Pegg.

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Goofs

In the opening crane-down shot at the open air party (about half way through the movie) you can see a tiny "hair in the gate" at the bottom-center of the screen. It is still there in the subsequent shot, but has obviously been removed in time for the next one.

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Quotes

Sidney Young: I don't know the meaning of the word fear.
Alison Olsen: I'm sure there are many words you don't know the meaning of.

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Connections

References Le mépris n'aura qu'un temps (1970)

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Soundtracks

You Really Got Me
Written by Ray Davies
Performed by The Kinks
Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group Ltd
Under licence from Universal Music Operations
(c) 1964 Edward Kassner Music Co Ltd, London, England for the World used by permission. All rights reserved

User Reviews

Getting Into The 7th Room

Straughan's adaptation of 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' is a charming and funny albeit familiar film. Yes, the story itself isn't anything new to the screen. The film also had potential of being an engaging satire but it remains rather a feel good romantic comedy. I liked the mixture of American and British humour. It is a well executed film that is rushed in the beginning and clichéd in the end. I enjoyed the mid-sections the most. Pegg, yet again, dominates the movie with his comic power. He's simply hysterical even though he isn't very different from his other films. Jeff Bridges is fantastic. A smoking Gillian Anderson is cast against type as the neurotic, stuck-up and arrogant publicist. Kirsten Dunst looks quite cute here and delivers a charming performance. Megan Fox pretty much plays herself. 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' has got some hilarious dialogues brilliantly delivered by the actors. It is the comedic sequences that stand out while the romantic scenes and the more dramatic ones feel rather deja-vu. Pegg proves that he can carry a film on his own and 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' remains, at the least, highly entertaining.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [UK] Official site [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

Filming Locations:

Café de Paris, Coventry Street, Soho, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,430,294, 5 October 2008

Gross USA:

$2,778,752

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,152,009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Number 9 Films, Film4, Intandem Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1