High Fidelity

ddly vacant, at least if you liked the novel. Nick Hornby, a true-blue Londoner, paces his book in accordance with period-piece British rock’n’roll. His loves are British; his songs and breakups a reflection of city and country. Here, it’s an all-American show (never mind that Englishman Stephen Frears directed). London is Chicago, with John Cusack as record store owner Rob Gordon. Cusack’s fine, and so are girlfriends past: Iben Hjejle (Laura) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Charlie). Jack Black is very, very funny as sidekick Barry; Joan Cusack — the best sister a John could have — is a joy, as always. It’s just that this is so… American. And Hornby is so… British.