THE burning question is, has Nick Hornby's cult novel translated to the big screen via re-location Stateside? Unfortunately, having never read it I can't judge, writes Richard King? What I can tell you though is that High Fidelity is a good slice of cinematic fun. To be honest, when I left the Odeon I was a little unsure how I felt about the movie

But as the hours passed I found myself thinking about it more and more. Wow, a summer movie that makes you think... now there's a novelty. The more I thought about it the more fond I grew and now I am actually contemplating going to see it again! Wow, a summer movie that's worth seeing twice!

The story, for what it is, follows the trials and tribulations of music obsessive Rob (John Cusak), proprietor of Championship Records, a run-down second-hand record store. There he employs two similarly obsessed misfits -- introvert Dick (Todd Louiso) and extrovert Barry (Jack Black). Rob has recently broken up with his long time girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejl) who has absconded with the new age guru, Ian/Ray (Tim Robbins) from the apartment above. Rob wants Laura back but really doesn't know why.

Much of the movie is Cusak ranting straight to camera, a device that in anyone else's hands would probably have fallen flat. But Cusak is a master craftsman and works his "inner monologue" seamlessly into the interactive dialogue.

The very best moments happen within the confines of the record store. Who could ever have imagined that endless lists of artists, records and other music trivia could ever be so entertaining and down right funny.