How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

2008Movie110 minEnglish

Sidney Young is a down-on-his-luck journalist. Thanks to a stint involving a pig and a glitzy awards ceremony, Sidney turns his fortunes around, attracting the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of New York-based glossy magazine 'Sharps', and landing the holy grail of journalism jobs. The Brit jets off to the Big Apple and moves from one blunder to the next.

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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes41%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users61%
Director: Robert B. WeideGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

Sidney Young, a bumbling and ambitious British journalist known for his outlandish tactics, secures a job at a high-profile New York magazine. Despite his best efforts to charm and impress, his uncouth behavior and desperate attempts to fit into the cutthroat world of celebrity journalism consistently backfire. As he navigates office politics and a budding romance, Sidney must decide if he can truly change his ways to succeed or if his unique brand of chaos is his ultimate downfall.

Critical Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising Simon Pegg's performance but criticizing the script's predictable plot and uneven humor. Audience reception was similarly divided, with some appreciating the satirical take on celebrity culture and others finding it too superficial.

What Reviewers Say

  • Simon Pegg delivers a charming performance that anchors the film.
  • The satire on celebrity culture is occasionally sharp but often falls flat.
  • The plot relies too heavily on familiar tropes and predictable outcomes.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be a moderately entertaining comedy, with many enjoying Simon Pegg's comedic timing and charm. However, some felt the humor was hit-or-miss, and the story lacked originality, leading to a mixed overall reception.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the best-selling 2001 memoir of the same name by Toby Young, a journalist known for his controversial and often self-deprecating writing.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Gimly

Gimly

I think Simon Pegg is probably better served as a comedic actor in his native British movies, he's proven himself in that field time and time again, but when it comes to things like _How to Lose Friends & Alienate People_ he is never given ...