HIGH FIDELITY

CAPSULE REVIEW –– Being a big Cusack fan, as well as a fan of the novel, I wasn't a bit surprised by how much I liked this movie. No one plays the down-and-out loser, trying to find the right girl, better than the charming Mr. C. In this instance, he plays Rob, a record store owner searching to uncover the reasons why all of his relationships end, including his most recent with Laura (Hjejle). So, he reconnects with the Top 5 women who broke his heart in an attempt to find out what's so unlovable about him. What he discovers is that not all the problems in the past were his fault, but most of the ones between him and Laura were. He refuses to truly commit to her, until he realizes she might be gone for good. Rob's behavior is rarely exemplary, but we learn to love him as he learns to accept responsibility for both his past and his future happiness. Not many actors could make such a schlub charming, but through voice-over and direct interaction with the camera, Cusack opens his heart and shows his humanity. That he does it in a way that's both witty and painful, only makes him more endearing. The rest of the cast fill in gaps, with outrageously funny turns by Black and Louiso as Rob's geeky employees, and wonderfully honest performances by the ladies, especially Hjejle. A romantic hit both sexes can enjoy.