Einstein said, "Try not to become a man of success rather to become a man of value".

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

(2008)

Reasonably entertaining, but given the talent on both sides of the camera there's the strong sense that the pooch was screwed. Part of the problem is trying to squeeze the real life obnoxious twat that is Toby Young into a character arc for not a completely obnoxious twat played by Simon Pegg.

Pegg seems best suited to supporting roles if he hasn't originated the material himself, and certainly here the supporting cast shines brighter. Kirsten Dunst, in particular, reminds you of how talented she is after her stir-and-repeat Mary Jane. Megan Fox is surprisingly funny too. Then there's the great Jeff Bridges and the also great Danny Huston. Bill Paterson and Miriam Margolyes make the most of small parts.

Robert Weide, Curb Your Enthusiasm veteran, directs his feature debut and possibly goes a little too showy; the whole thing feels to slick, too many scenes accompanied by pop songs. There’s too little confidence in the story not to fill it with gross-out set piece after gross-out set piece. The result is a bit like the cosmetic job Gillian Anderson's character wants done on one of her clients; the film feels de-clawed.

***

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Now In Full Color, with a Happier Ending

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