Movie: Music and Lyrics
Starring: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Haley Bennett, Matthew Morrison,
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a has been. His claim to fame, as one half of the band PoP!, died out over two decades ago. While his bandmate Colin went on to do bigger and better things, Alex is having trouble keeping his singing gigs at Knott's Berry Farm from cancelling on him. However, Alex has a shot of getting back in the spotlight. Teen sensation, Cora, (Haley Bennett) has asked him to write her next song, "Way Back Into Love." He knows because Cora is the hit thing now, he could have a career NOT on life support.....only he isn't a lyricist.
Enter Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), a woman who is only his house to water the plants. She talks nonstop, comes from a family of health nuts, she has low self esteem--and she is a born lyricist. Alex discovers this by her making up lines to one of his very weak attempts. The two strike up a pairing; they two come up with a great song....and it doesn't hurt that they become attracted to each other in the process.
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So I was plesantly surprised with this movie. To quote a dear friend of mine, "Hugh Grant looks like a drowned puppy and he can't really act." I am inclined to agree with her. And I haven't seen Drew Barrymore in anything aside from "Ever After." But the two of them had really great chemistry together. It was a movie that wasn't entirely cookie cutter, although you probably could guess the ending. There was some legitimate conflict, there was a lot of sweetness, and even some heart. I like my romantic comedies to have all of those things.
Sadly, what I do expect romantic comedies to have is some slight content problems. Drives me nuts that they have to add it in, but I am able to skip it. Alex and Sophie do have a physical relationship--we see them passionately kiss and then the next scene has them awakening under the piano....sheets up to shoulders. There is some provacative dancing and skimpy wardrobe thanks to Cora. (Cora's character is a lot like Shakira, or Brittany Spears, or Jennifer Lopez.) In fact, the dancing gets a bit much. However, there is barely any language--just a few instances of God's name in vain. So I guess that is a good thing.
Some cool tidbits--Drew Barrymore and Hugh grant do their own singing. Matthew Morrison (of GLEE fame) is Cora's manager, so it was fun to see him a few scenes. Overall, I did enjoy the film a great deal, though I was reminded that I am neither a composer or a lyricist. =D
6 comments:
Awww! This is such a cute movie - I totally agree with your friend though: Hugh Grant ALWAYS fumbles around in each role I've seen him in. Drew, on the other hand is always adorable in whatever movie she stars in (and, "Ever After" is a fav).
Glad you liked this one okay, Ella! I thought it was super cute, but rarely watch it because of Hugh - although he is tolerable in this role, unlike some...
Sounds cute. Yes, predictable, but cute. (I don't mind predictab le!!)
I think the only thing I've seen Hugh Grant in is Sense & Sensibility, so I don't kow much about his acting abilities.
This is one of my favorite modern rom-coms, and long overdue for a rewatch! I think Hugh Grant basically plays himself in every film I've ever seen him in -- and he's most tolerable IMO in this and Two Weeks Notice. :)
Rissi, I have only seen Hugh in three things--but in those, he doesn't act superbly. However, the chemistry that Hugh and Drew had translated well on the screen (and that isn't always a guarantee with actors/actresses)
Mom, it is predictable...but it was cute.
Ruth, I would say a rewatch is in order, because it really is quite good. However, I did not care for him (or the movie actually) in "Two Weeks Notice"....only that is a blog post in and of itself =D
Love this movie. It's so... cheeky.
Hugh Grant. Normally I can't stand him. He annoys me, and not just because he was such a dreadful Edward in S&S. But this and "Love Actually" are the only two movies I like him in.
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