How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, based on the semi-autobiographical book by Toby Young, is about the outspoken and frustrated ‘hack’, Sydney (Simon Pegg), who has grown used to being abused by celebrities in London (‘Everyone hates us, and WE DON’T CARE’), although pretty eager to rub shoulders with them at the same time. He is offered the job of his dreams at a New York magazine by the hilarious Jeff Bridges, but when he arrives is frustrated that he is expected to pander to the rich and famous. The script is funny, although it borders on ludicrous as you watch in horror as Young alienates every single person around him with his blunt British ways. However, it strikes truer to home than ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, somehow avoiding clichés and being embarrassing despite the slapstick humour. Pegg as usual brings real charisma to the film, whilst Kirsten Dunst, his prickly co-worker, shrewdly captures that American inability to appreciate British humour, watching Young's exploits with growing distaste and horror. Watch out for Megan Fox, playing a superficial Hollywood strumpet, and Danny Huston, who plays Sydney’s boss, and being fantastically ghastly. There are good cameo appearances by Chris O’Dowd (hmm), James Corden and Thandie Newton.
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