For music elitists and people who think they're funny

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2001)

Never before has a movie captured what it's like to be a musical elitist - you know the type, the person who has always heard of bands ages before everyone else, and who immediately trashes them once everyone else starts listening to them. There is plenty to mock about this sort of individual, and this movies does it very well.
The real joy of the film, though, is that the film also shows you that elitists are people, too. John Cusack is terrific as Rob, the music shop owner with personal and personnel problems. He is utterly believable, and yet a likeable character for all his faults.
The direction is good, too, though I personally find the "is this a day-dream or is it real?" scenes a little annoying.
This movie is definitely worth a rental or two, and for you film elitists out there, you can see Jack Black at his pre-Shallow Hal best.