High Fidelity MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

Rob Gordon (John Cusack) owns a less than prosperous record shop. With his two employees, Barry (Jack Black) and Dick (Todd Louiso), he spends the day discussing various music styles and recordings while occasionally selling a vinyl disc or two. When his long time girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle), walks out on him, he begins to evaluate his past relationships with women in record terms. He tells the story behind the Top 5 Breakups of all time. Although responsible for the record store, Rob has trouble taking responsibility for his relationships until he realizes he wants Laura back. But getting her back means becoming an adult. This humorous look at lust, romance, love and commitment from a male viewpoint appeals to both men and women and should attract the dating crowd.

As Rob examines his past interactions with women, he goes from first kiss to living with Laura. Much of the discussion relates to sexual relations although Rob sees it in terms of love. Several scenes imply sex as Rob is shown in bed with Laura and others. After the breakup, one particularly graphic scene has Rob imagining Laura with another man. Rob also has a brief affair with a musician but realizes he really wants Laura back. Although sex is frequently implied, only one scene involves female rear nudity, while another provides a brief glimpse of side breast nudity as a woman dresses. A music knowledge snob, Barry often insults both co-workers and customers as they argue about records and appropriate entries in Top 5 lists. But he also has dreams of being discovered as a musical performer. Gutter vocabulary overflows the dialogue with obscene and crude language, but violence is limited to a somewhat humorous scene in Robs imagination as he physically responds to Lauras new boyfriend. Although the theme of finding what love and relationships are all about is commendable, emphasis on premarital sex and vulgar dialogue make HIGH FIDELITY a broken record.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Buena Vista (Touchstone/Disney), 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521