Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity is much like Hornby’s later About a Boy. Rob (John Cusack) is a single man who is aware of his shallowness and multiple faults. He goes from one relationship to the next, getting dumped by one girl after another. Of course, Rob eventually comes to terms with himself, but High Fidelity really just feels like practice for the later About a Boy, which is funnier, more engaging, and more touching.

High Fidelity does hold its own though. Nearly half of the film consists of Rob talking to the camera, narrating Ferris Bueller style. I think it’s a potentially dangerous way to handle a narrative adaptation of a novel, but it works here – largely because of the narrator. Cusack keeps us interested in the character; he emits a certain air of coolness that simply allows us believe this guy.

Rob’s primary flaw is his perception of the world – highly idealistic. He sees things they way he wants to see them and when they don’t fit – it causes problems. Rob’s never content with what he has, but he’s never willing to do what it takes to reach his usually unrealistic expectations. Rob convincingly comes to realize that he really is happy right where he is.

The more humorous moments revolve around Rob’s record store. Rob has hired two music freaks to work in the store, Dick (Todd Louiso) and Barry (Jack Black), both of whom are elitist about their musical tastes. If someone comes into the store who seems amateur about music or has bad tastes in music, they will refuse to sell him anything.

Though the “musical elitism” is certainly there for humor’s sake, I still can’t figure out whether their own preferences are supposed to be comical or not. These guys seem to think that any album that has sold over 100,000 copies is uncool – which eliminates most artists you’ve ever heard of. Their whole rock culture is one of the underground and the archaic. The further off the beaten path, the better. They do seem to know their stuff though.

High Fidelity runs more subtle than outright and is often rather subdued. Not a whole lot actually happens, it’s a lot of thought and conversation. They’re good thoughts though, interesting, compelling, often humorous – and amount to a good conversation.

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