HE’S ACROSS THE POND, AND OUT OF HIS DEPTH.
British reporter Sidney Young (Simon Pegg) is hired by a NYC celebrity magazine, but realizes that nothing will come to him cheaply and that he must learn how to play the game. Loosely based on Toby Young’s hit memoir of his experiences in the publishing world, this comedy has many laughs but never allows itself to go a little crazy or break the mould. Still, Pegg is excellent, both funny and charming in a role that is not entirely easy to make sympathetic. Just like everybody else in this celebrity bubble, he’s smug and simple-minded but still makes us believe that he’s worth caring about.
2008-U.S.-Britain. 109 min. Color. Directed by Robert Weide. Book: Toby Young. Cast: Simon Pegg (Sidney Young), Kirsten Dunst (Alison Olsen), Jeff Bridges (Clayton Harding), Danny Huston, Gillian Anderson, Megan Fox… Thandiwe Newton.