This movie had “high” in the title. I had high hopes this was going to be good, at least whilst high. We shall see how that turned out. Speaking of high, I think I got a little too baked for this one, because the opening scene where the camera slowly followed the length of a coil headphones cord started to send my head spinning. Then I realized this was one of those movies where the lead character talked directly to the audience to tell the key points of a story. What do they call this silly technique? I had to Google it, and apparently it is called “piece to camera” and/or “breaking the fourth wall”. I don’t know which one describes this, but I have a better term, and it’s only one word: LAME!
So, this one starred John Cusack as Rob, the owner of a record store. Iben Hjejle played Laura, Rob’s girlfriend who just dumped him. Jack “Jables” Black and Todd Louiso played Barry and Dick, the other two employees in Rob’s record store. Smaller roles were played by Catherine Zeta-Jones as one of Rob’s ex-girlfriends, Lisa Bonet as a musician and new love interest for Rob, Sarah Gilbert as Dick’s girlfriend, and Tim Robbins as Laura’s new boyfriend Ian. This was also lame as Ian lived directly above Rob’s apartment, was much older than Rob or Laura and they used to laugh at listening to him having sex.
So right off the bat, Dick was a bizarre and annoying character. Also bizarre and annoying was the whole idea that people are so into music/records that they mock others who don’t share the same opinions on what constitutes “great” music, as if there are absolutes in any art form. This is what Barry did throughout the movie, and Rob to a lesser extent. Barry even went as far as chasing potential customers out of the store. And oddly enough, the store was virtually empty during the first few store scenes, but then later in the movie, it was magically packed with customers. Did not compute.
Anywho, most of the movie was spent listening to Rob yammer on about his top five lists, starting with his top five list of girlfriends dumping him. Oddly enough, later in the movie, Rob was seen wearing a jersey with the number 6 on it, then later a t-shirt with the number 7. Oh…. kay – was that supposed to be funny? Like many great actors, Cusack was much hammier earlier in his craft, and it showed in this one. I suppose it didn’t help that he spent so much time talking to us/the audience. And another corny cliché in this movie – walking in pouring rain with no umbrella. Jiminy Christmas, who does this – ever? That’s right – nobody. I think Cusack did this at least twice. Is it supposed to connote some deep meaning about the character’s psyche? Well I’m a tell you what – the only thing it connotes to me is: “this character was a friggen’ idiot.”
In any event, this was a simplistic plot with an unexpectedly weak ending. Although the Jables song at the end pushed the needle just enough into the green that I can recommend watching it. Six 45 records out of eleven. Speaking of Jables, I really have to re-watch to review THE GREAT Tencaious D in The Pick of Destiny. Soon, my friends… soon.