I really wasn't into this movie. It's been masquerading as it was a cultural touchstone for years, but the soundtrack is the only memorable bit. I like most of the actors in it, but I saw this as a largely wasted opportunity. A record store can totally be an interesting setting--check out "Hi-Fidelity. This one here seems to think we should care about these kids' problems and struggles, but doesn't take any time for us to get to know them. I also find most of the characters unlikeable, and most of the situations are not interesting. But it keeps on going, like it's a tv show we've been watching for years, showing us the lives of these workers who we have no reason to want to watch. If it were a mini-series, maybe it could have been fun. As a self-contained project, I can't understand what makes anyone think this is a "story" that needed to be told.
Review of Empire Records
