MovieChat Forums > High Fidelity (2000) Discussion > Why Rob and Barry are both jerkholes.

Why Rob and Barry are both jerkholes.

posted 9 years ago by Huskie_Jon
10 replies | jump to latest

Rob is the a-hole all of his ex-girlfriends claim he is. He never lets his present relationship stop him from getting involved in another relationship, but he agonizes over all of his breakups. He gets to play the field, but his girlfriend needs to stay devoted only to him. When he reflects on why the girl he screwed over the most told him why he was such a jerk, his defense only confirms it.

Barry, with his criticism of everyone else's musical tastes, proves that you do not have to be rich to be a snob. When you work in a record store, your job is to sell records and make customers happy. Not scare them away but telling them what you really think about their musical tastes. Who made him the authority on all things rock? I really wanted to jump into the movie and tell Barry to go screw himself.

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A dope trailer is no place for a kitty.

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

Who made him the authority on all things rock? I really wanted to jump into the movie and tell Barry to go screw himself.

Barry is supposed to be a jerk in the movie! He's not meant to be an admirable character, though he does give a pleasantly surprising vocal performance at the end, which somewhat puts him in a different light.

"The future is tape, videotape, and NOT film?"

[–] Huskie_Jon 9 years ago

It was also telling that Barry did not want the person he perceived as a geek to buy one of Barry's favorite albums. He could not cope with the idea that someone he perceives as less than cool would have similar musical tastes to his own, because he listens to the kind of music that real music fans listen to.

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A dope trailer is no place for a kitty.

[–] moviefool09 9 years ago

Yes, exactly. In general, Barry is a musical snob and an unpleasant person. Very funny comic foil to Cusack though and Louiso.

"The future is tape, videotape, and NOT film?"

[–] mmichaels-71660 9 years ago

Rob learns his lesson. This is a coming of age story but the main character has experienced what social scientists call a "delayed adulthood". He doesn't realize how wrong he was until he meets Charlie again. He realises Charlie is a bad person and because he had blinders on he built up a fantasy around her and other relationships.

[–] TeenGangDeb 9 years ago

Barry is the Comic Book Guy of records. You've never met him?

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Love means never having to say you're ugly. - The Abominable Dr. Phibes

[–] benedictcumberbatch-87693 9 years ago

Rob is a selfish cu t

Barry is a bully

[–] LostInNecropolis2 9 years ago

I kinda always wished someone who was cooler than them and knew more about obscure music than them came in and made them look bad.

[–] freejazz38 8 years ago

This your first movie? ahhh, mmmm. ok

[–] LostInNecropolis2 8 years ago

lol what? Your comment made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[–] Naughty-God 8 years ago

You need to watch the movie again.

Rob's past relationships failed but they all failed for different reasons, including the girl leaving him for another man. Besides, plenty of people get married and start families only to fall apart and start all over again with someone else making more kids before walking away from each other again and possibly starting a third tribe. If Rob married his high school sweetheart I guarantee you that it would have ended before he reached 25.

Barry is obnoxious but entertaining side-kick who I could see eventually buying Rob's store as Rob moves on with his record label and finds moderate success as a music producer/record executive.