Music and Lyrics Review

"Music and Lyrics" reviews

Movie

Music and Lyrics

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-02-14 23:56:55

Rating

2/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

What Music and Lyrics may lack in romantic zing, it makes up for by featuring Hugh Grant in tight pants and a bad '80s hairdo.

Story

Meet Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), a washed-up but charismatic '80s pop star who has been reduced to the nostalgia circuit at county fairs and amusement parks. He doesn't mind it too much since he gets to sing his old songs and his fans, albeit older now, still throng 'round him. But Alex is really a talented musician, and when his manager (Brad Garrett) lands him a comeback chance—to compose a song for the reigning pop princess Cora Corman (Haley Bennet) for a duet—Alex jumps on it. One small problem: Alex hasn't written a song in years and needs to have this one wrapped up in a few days. That's where Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), Alex's beguilingly quirky plant lady, comes in. She's got a weird flair for words (Alex calls her "Cole Porter in panties") and soon he has convinced her to collaborate with him. Yes, yes, they fall for each other--but first they have to shift through their silly baggage.

Acting

The chemistry between any romantic comedy's wannabe lovers has to click. If it doesn't, you're stuck in sizzlelessness. The stars of Music and Lyrics sort of falls in between the two: Grant shines while Barrymore fizzles. Honestly, Grant could keep playing the role of a bemused, disheveled, slightly edgy but utterly irresistible romantic lead until he's 80 years old, and we'll still buy it. He never seems to grow stale in the label he's been wearing since Four Weddings and a Funeral. Barrymore, too, has been quite appealing as the quirky love interest in films such as The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates. But those both had her starring opposite Adam Sandler—and the chemistry obviously bubbles between them. Grant and Barrymore can't quite pull it off as well, and while Grant's Alex is charming and witty as the one half of Music and Lyrics' romantic pairing, Barrymore's Sophie is more annoying than anything else. Too bad. Newcomer Bennet, however, nails the Shakira/Britney Spears pop diva, never playing it too over-the-top but still keeping her tongue planted firmly in her cheek.

Direction

Forget about all the romance--Music and Lyrics is really about the evolution of a good pop song. The hilarious opening '80s music video, starring Alex's fictional band Pop!, truly sets the mood—leaving you humming their catchy but totally irritating song "Pop! Goes My Heart" throughout the entire movie. Director/writer Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice) knows what he is doing when he's got his two lovebirds collaborating on the love song for Cora. But the film falls apart when Lawrence tries to justify everything else, such as why Sophie's a neurotic wacko (coming off a bad breakup) or why Alex fell off the wagon (bitterness over a split with his writing partner)—and most importantly, how these two kids make it work (the ending is too pat). I suppose it wouldn't be much of a movie if it were just about how bad the music was in the '80s, but it certainly boosts Music and Lyrics' corny spirits.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 2 stars.

Copyright © CinemaSource 2007.

Movie

Music And Lyrics

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-02-02 16:00:50

Provider

MRIB

Review

Hugh Grant's back in one of those self-deprecating, bumbling love interest roles he does so well - and this time he's teamed up with Drew Barrymore for romcom Music And Lyrics.

Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a washed-up 80s popstar whose years at the top of the charts are long behind him. But his luck changes when reigning pop princess Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) asks him to write and record a duet with her, giving Alex the chance to rejuvenate a career that has been reduced to embarrassing public appearances on the nostalgia circuit. But there's a problem - Alex hasn’t written a song in years, he’s never written lyrics, and he has to come up with a hit in a matter of days.

Enter Sophie Fisher (Barrymore), the quirky lady whose job it is to water the office plants. Conveniently Sophie has a flair for writing lyrics, but on the rebound from a bad relationship break-up, she's scared of getting close to commitment-phobe Alex. As their friendship inevitably heats up both at the piano and under it, Alex and Sophie face their fears - and the music - to find the love and success they both crave.

With romcom writer and director Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice, Forces Of Nature, Miss Congeniality) at the helm, Music And Lyrics follows a well-established plot formula, with some entertaining digs at the music industry. The soundtrack is certainly not going to be a chart hit, although Barrymore contributes one decent track, but Grant's terrible karaoke vocals inadvertently add to the comedy. While the two lack the chemistry to make the romance part of the film look convincing, Grant's on-liners go some way to towards making it a mildly entertaining movie.

Copyright © MRIB 2007.