High Fidelity (2000)

Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is the unassuming owner of Championship Vinyl, a record store that is less about selling and more about not selling out. In the store, he and his two employees Barry (Jack Black) and Dick (Todd Louiso) trade barbs with one another, argue about music and the finer things of life--relationships, movies, sex, sleep even. With his last breakup as inspiration, Rob copes in the only way he knows how--top five lists. Recounting his top five breakups, Rob soon discovers more about himself than anything else.

High Fidelity is an indulgent geek film that is so ridiculously inane, it's quite enjoyable, even from a female perspective. John Cusack is unexpectedly funny, but it is supporting Jack Black and Todd Louiso (?) that really steal the show. Barry is such an elitist--a true music snob. I can relate. Tim Robbins is hysterical as the girlfriend stealing neighbor.

The dialogue could have been lifted from any numerous conversations you or I've had. Strangely, it's comforting that they actually made a movie about this lame stuff. High Fidelity comes across as real--that sound cliche, but the characters never get too quirky or too smart for their own good. Seriously, I recognize people within these characters--it's ridiculous!

High Fidelity, I don't want to oversell it, but it's a casual comedy of universal importance. No matter your dorkdom preference (music, movies, comics, quantum physics), this movie somehow validate those late-night Waffle House conversations.