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How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

  • 2008
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
72K
YOUR RATING
Jeff Bridges, Kirsten Dunst, Simon Pegg, and Megan Fox in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People - Theatrical Trailer
Play trailer2:31
4 Videos
56 Photos
ParodyBiographyComedyDramaRomance

A British writer struggles to fit in at a high-profile magazine in New York City.A British writer struggles to fit in at a high-profile magazine in New York City.A British writer struggles to fit in at a high-profile magazine in New York City.

  • Director
    • Robert B. Weide
  • Writers
    • Peter Straughan
    • Toby Young
  • Stars
    • Simon Pegg
    • Kirsten Dunst
    • Megan Fox
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    72K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert B. Weide
    • Writers
      • Peter Straughan
      • Toby Young
    • Stars
      • Simon Pegg
      • Kirsten Dunst
      • Megan Fox
    • 117User reviews
    • 109Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos4

    How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
    Trailer 2:31
    How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
    Web Diary 3
    Featurette 2:17
    Web Diary 3
    Web Diary 3
    Featurette 2:17
    Web Diary 3
    Web Diary 2
    Featurette 2:58
    Web Diary 2
    Web Diary 1
    Featurette 2:40
    Web Diary 1

    Photos56

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    Top cast89

    Edit
    Simon Pegg
    Simon Pegg
    • Sidney Young
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Alison Olsen
    Megan Fox
    Megan Fox
    • Sophie Maes
    Kelan Guy
    • Young Sidney
    Janette Scott
    Janette Scott
    • Sidney's Mother
    • (archive footage)
    Danny Huston
    Danny Huston
    • Lawrence Maddox
    Gillian Anderson
    Gillian Anderson
    • Eleanor Johnson
    Kelly Jo Charge
    • Apollo Awards Presenter
    Christian Maier Smith
    • Apollo Awards Guest
    Katherine Parkinson
    Katherine Parkinson
    • PR Woman
    Felicity Montagu
    Felicity Montagu
    • Clipboard Nazi
    Thandiwe Newton
    Thandiwe Newton
    • Thandie Newton
    • (as Thandie Newton)
    John Lightbody
    John Lightbody
    • Assistant Hotel Manager
    Ian Bonar
    Ian Bonar
    • Post Modern Review Staff
    James Corden
    James Corden
    • Post Modern Review Staff
    Fenella Woolgar
    Fenella Woolgar
    • Post Modern Review Staff
    Chris O'Dowd
    Chris O'Dowd
    • Post Modern Review Staff
    Hugh Thompson
    • Post Modern Review Staff
    • Director
      • Robert B. Weide
    • Writers
      • Peter Straughan
      • Toby Young
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews117

    6.471.6K
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    Featured reviews

    8jhseeker

    This movie is better than its audience

    Oh dear we don't like it when our super-hero love interest develops a brain do we?

    Something has happened to people, they have lost the ability to enjoy, a simple feel-good, love story/comedy? Kirsten Dunst is a revelation - funny, sexy and real. I laughed out loud ooh at least five times and I'm not ashamed to say had a tear in my eye a couple of times too. The cast, acting and script is great, I watch a lot of films right across the board and I haven't seen one in this genre that has been as successful. Those who disagree please tell me where I can find some! I'm sure the book is good too but I think you have to judge it on its own merits.
    9DanielHoldsworth

    Simon Pegg..... You've finally made it!!!!

    Amazing performance from Simon Pegg who just gets better and better with every role. As usual he plays the part of a very cringy character who makes you want to hide behind your cushion in embarrassment for him sometimes, but thats what Pegg is all about.

    The laughs were regular and eye watering and everyone of them aimed at Penn. The movie was very cleverly put together where every character plays a very sophisticated and serious part with Penn being the only humour involved which is a huge credit to the Director Robert Weide.

    And I cant let this one go without a quick round of applause to Gilliam Anderson who shone throughout. Highly recommended to all.
    8dobbin-4

    Pegg List Grows As This Movie Does Not Fail To Deliver The Laughs

    Pegg has had a few hits in the past few years, starting with "Shaun Of The Dead" in 2004, movie on to "Hot Fuzz 2007", early 2008 he came out with "Run Fat Boy Run" and now comes this, "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People" which is in many ways one of my favourite comedy's of the year.

    The film is about Sidney Yound, a man who writes a failing magazine who makes fun of celebrity's mostly because he is not one of them. Anyway, one of the most successful magazine owners (Played By Jeff Bridges) invites him (Out of nostalgia) to work at his magazine. Sidney is of course excited and moves to America, there he meets a girl currently writing a book, and hilarity ensues.

    This film is great and I hope more come out like it in the near future. Pegg has once again given people everywhere another good film and I cant wait to the see the third part of the blood and ice cream trilogy "Paul". I Rate this film 81%.
    8basebliman

    This is a genuinely funny movie

    This movie at its heart is basically a romantic comedy, but it made me laugh out loud several times and typical rom coms rarely make me do that. Simon Pegg is definitely usually the funny guy in the movie, but Megan Fox steals a ton of the funny lines and even Kirsten Dunst has some moments that are legitimately funny as well. This movie won't win any awards and the idea (even if it is loosely based on a true story) isn't original, but if you want a good laugh I'd say watch it.
    Chrysanthepop

    Getting Into The 7th Room

    Straughan's adaptation of 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' is a charming and funny albeit familiar film. Yes, the story itself isn't anything new to the screen. The film also had potential of being an engaging satire but it remains rather a feel good romantic comedy. I liked the mixture of American and British humour. It is a well executed film that is rushed in the beginning and clichéd in the end. I enjoyed the mid-sections the most. Pegg, yet again, dominates the movie with his comic power. He's simply hysterical even though he isn't very different from his other films. Jeff Bridges is fantastic. A smoking Gillian Anderson is cast against type as the neurotic, stuck-up and arrogant publicist. Kirsten Dunst looks quite cute here and delivers a charming performance. Megan Fox pretty much plays herself. 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' has got some hilarious dialogues brilliantly delivered by the actors. It is the comedic sequences that stand out while the romantic scenes and the more dramatic ones feel rather deja-vu. Pegg proves that he can carry a film on his own and 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' remains, at the least, highly entertaining.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Toby Young, the man around whom the film is based, was banned from the set, as he was reportedly annoying cast members, and interrupting Robert B. Weide as he tried to direct scenes.
    • Goofs
      When we first meet Sophie Maes (Megan Fox), she says she is a vegetarian and would never wear fur, yet we see her at the party towards the end of the movie wearing what looks like a real fur shawl. However, this is most likely a testament to how movie stars sell out their beliefs when they become famous.
    • Quotes

      Sidney Young: [to his father] You thought Brad Pitt was a cave in Yorkshire.

    • Connections
      Featured in Film '72: Episode dated 23 September 2008 (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      The Drinks Taste Better When They're Free
      Written by Liam Howe, Ian Mack & Hannah Robinson

      Performed by Electrovamp

      Courtesy of Universal-Island Records Ltd

      Under licence from Universal Music Operations

      Published by Copyright Control/Right Bank Music UK Ltd/Native Songs

      Produced by Ian Mack & Paul Middleton for Right Bank Productions Ltd

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    FAQ21

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    • Is "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" based on a book?
    • Is it based on actual events?
    • Is there a scene after the credits?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 2008 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Cayman Islands
      • Ireland
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cómo perder a tus amigos
    • Filming locations
      • Soho Grand Hotel, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Intandem Films
      • Film4
      • UK Film Council
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $28,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,778,752
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,430,294
      • Oct 5, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,152,009
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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