'How to Lose' an audience

Based on the book by British writer and former journalist Toby Young, is How To Lose Friends and Alienate People on the track to be this fall's tongue-in-cheek comedy? The answer is no. Some blunders in tone and too cautious choices prevent it from reaching that goal.

The plot of the film revolves around Sidney Young (Simon Pegg), an English journalist who searches for fame while working at a satiric newspaper. People focuses on his numerous gaffes, referring to Toby Young's own experiences while working for GQ and Vanity Fair. After a rather amusing scene where he lets a pig mess around in a crowded assembly, the awkward freelancer catches the attention of a renowned New York editor, Clayton Harding (an almost unrecognizable Jeff Bridges), who offers him a position in his trendy newspaper, Sharp.

A chaotic series of setbacks and misadventures ensues, thrusting the audience into a sharp, satirical undertone. Young finds himself in situations, such as hiring a stripper for his boss to forgive his previous blunders … on Bring-Your-Children-To-Work Day. Though it is really entertaining, this scene is representative of the impression of deja vu that stalks the whole movie.

A panel of powerful and sardonic women surround our British troublemaker, including Sophie Maes (Megan Fox), a budding actress to whom Young becomes a confidante after a very frosty first encounter. Her gorgeous presence gives the film a glamorous yet ironic touch that serves to criticize the media world quite well.

Kirsten Dunst portrays Alison Olsen, Young's sarcastic colleague who seems always on the verge of a nervous breakdown in reaction to the new recruit's irritating attitude. Still, her relationship with Young slowly evolves into an unconventional romance. The actors make for an incongruous yet charming couple, their polarity making them endearing to the audience.

The presence of both Gillian Anderson and Jeff Bridges is totally pleasurable, since these characters are very different from the ones we normally associate them with (respectively an eccentric editor and an unscrupulous publicist whom Young infuriates). The casting is overall enticing; Pegg (from the exhilarating zombie movie Shaun of the Dead) is a perfect pick for this role, which needs a lot of balance, and Bridges makes a wonderful editor, which definitely gives the movie a The Devil wears Prada feel. Yet, Fox's acting is far from tremendous; she only stands out because the camera loves her beautiful face.

Apart from the interesting cast and some genuinely enjoyable scenes, How to Lose friends and Alienate People stands as an assemblage of the funniest scenes from famous comedies, especially the moment when Young tries to occupy Sophie's dog and throws his toy through the window, resulting in the little hideous creature flying through it. That scene is of course directly taken from There's Something About Mary. The result of this, however, is an unoriginal and uneven plot. If you want to see a wittier comedy, go and see Choke instead. C