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
Thandie Newton	...	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 | celebrity | magazine | new york city | 

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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

The book Alison Olsen is reading in the break room when Sidney sits down with her is "Relative Stranger: Piecing Together a Life Plagued by Madness" by Mary Loudon.

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Goofs

When Sidney is looking at Lawrence from inside an office, the camera and lighting kit is clearly visible in the reflection of the glass while trying to create Sidney's point of view.

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Quotes

Mrs. Kowalski: [Upon learning that Sidney writes about Hollywood stars for a magazine] Hollywood? Sodom and Gomorrah. Now everybody a celebrity. You take out your breasts, you're celebrity.
Sidney Young: I think it probably depends on the breasts...
Mrs. Kowalski: In Poland, someone was famous because they done something. Marie Curie, Pope John Paul...
Sidney Young: Yeah, well, they don't make entertainers like that anymore, do they?
Mrs. Kowalski: [sourly] Wise guy.

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Connections

Featured in Film 2017: Episode dated 23 September 2008 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Me So Horny
Written by Fresh Kid Ice (as Chris Wong Won), Brother Marquis (as Mark D. Ross), Mr. Mixx (as David P. Hobbs), Luther Campbell, Ricardo Williams
Performed by 2 Live Crew
PC 1878 Lil' Joe Records, Inc.
Pub: Lil' Joe Wein Music, Inc. (BMI)
2 Live Crew appears courtesy of Lil' Joe Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Pegg List Grows As This Movie Does Not Fail To Deliver The Laughs

Pegg has had a few hits in the past few years, starting with "Shaun Of The Dead" in 2004, movie on to "Hot Fuzz 2007", early 2008 he came out with "Run Fat Boy Run" and now comes this, "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People" which is in many ways one of my favourite comedy's of the year.

The film is about Sidney Yound, a man who writes a failing magazine who makes fun of celebrity's mostly because he is not one of them. Anyway, one of the most successful magazine owners (Played By Jeff Bridges) invites him (Out of nostalgia) to work at his magazine. Sidney is of course excited and moves to America, there he meets a girl currently writing a book, and hilarity ensues.

This film is great and I hope more come out like it in the near future. Pegg has once again given people everywhere another good film and I cant wait to the see the third part of the blood and ice cream trilogy "Paul". I Rate this film 81%.

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