John Cusack, Iben Hjejle and Jack Black in the Stephen Frears film ‘High Fidelity’

Venturing back into the romantic comedy genre with a film rated highly by blog fan Cobra, we bring to bear the record store bemusement of music fans everywhere with the Stephen Frears movie High Fidelity (2000).

(From left, John Cusack as Rob Gordon and Iben Hjejle as Laura in the Stephen Frears movie High Fidelity).

The centerpiece of the romantic comedy in the case of High Fidelity is record store owner Rob Gordon, as portrayed by John Cusack. Gordon owns and operates a record store with friends Barry Judd and Dick, who offer the emotional support of equally struggling music lovers whose love lives are in tatters as much as Rob Gordon’s are confused. The early trigger to our heroes love life comes when love interest and roommate Laura, as portrayed by Iben Hjejle, decides to move out.

(From left, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Charlie Nicholson, Lisa Bonet as Marie DeSalle and Lili Taylor as Sarah Kendrew in the Stephen Frears movie High Fidelity).

The existential crisis of mirroring a love life of failure ensues to the cadence of a friendship with Barry and Dick of discussing the pain of breakup set to ranked lists of musical breakups. This moves to different conceptions of love that have failed in the past or can take ones mind of the hurt of the current situation. Jack Black portrays Barry Judd and Todd Louiso portrays Dick as we the viewers learn of women such as Charlie Nicholson, Marie DeSalle and Sarah Kendrew, each with their distinctive charms and quirks in portrayals offered by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lisa Bonet and Lili Taylor, respectively.

(From left, John Cusack as Rob Gordon, Jack Black as Barry Judd, Todd Louiso as Dick and Tim Robbins as Ian ‘Ray’ Raymond in the Stephen Frears movie High Fidelity).

Meanwhile we learn that little breadcrumbs of love could still be pieced together into love for Rob and Laura. One of the obstacles that comes into view to turn this away is the realization that Laura has moved in with Ian ‘Ray’ Raymond, as portrayed by Tim Robbins. Rob’s response to Ian and the full situation with are comedically uneven. Things come together ultimately with support for Laura’s perspective coming from Rob’s sister Liz and Dick’s ultimate love interest, Annaugh Moss. Joan Cusack portrays Liz with Sara Gilbert having portrayed Annaugh.

(From left, Sara Gilbert as Annaugh Moss and Joan Cusack as Liz in the Stephen Frears movie High Fidelity).

Overall, it really is John Cusack‘s character of Rob Gordon that holds the movie High Fidelity together. You feel sympathy for the experiences he’s had in trying to find his way through the confusing world of stepping into his romantic feelings with maturity, empathy and finally love. Being a romantic comedy, High Fidelity does reward the viewer and the ever patient Laura for the pain of a confused leading man that needs that nudge to really feel the love that the movie delivers. I give High Fidelity as directed by Stephen Frears 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, July 31, 2021