With a familiar cast, an entertaining storyline, and some surprisingly decent songs, Music and Lyrics proves itself to be a romantic comedy that nearly all can enjoy.
Music and Lyrics is the latest feature from Director Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice).
The story revolves around reality television-destined, 80s pop star "has-been" Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant). Alex has been living in the past up until the point when his agent and close friend Chris Riley (Brad Garrett) unveils the harsh reality that Alex will soon be forgotten unless a big career move is made.
Alex's moment to shine arrives when "ultimate pop star" Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) asks him to write her new hit single. The problem is that Alex has not written a hit in fifteen years. Luckily, as fate would have it, in steps the quirky, muse-like, Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), who has a knack for words and eventually agrees to help Alex with his much needed masterpiece. Some much needed affection also comes into play but certainly not without the usual price of "business romances".
Scheduling to burst this film into theaters on Valentine's Day fits very well with the young crowd that it is aiming to please considering that at the time of its release it will be the only really romantic movie to be seen in theatres. That is unless your date has a thing for Hannibal Lector. Of course, this is another Hugh Grant romantic comedy, so one should not expect the unexpected and enter this knowing that his performance in Music and Lyrics is nothing new, but is overall pleasing. Grant plays Fletcher as, slightly arrogant yet at the same time down to earth. Think Bridgette Jones meets Love Actually.
Likewise, Drew Barrymore plays her usual role, the easily hurt love interest. This has been seen in her other flicks, The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates.
However, with all similarities to past performances aside, the cast seemed to blend smoothly together on the screen. Grant and Barrymore fit unbelievably well as the next "romantic movie couple".
The soundtrack to Music and Lyrics was mediocre at best. Melodically the songs were written beautifully, however, the lyrics themselves were amateur and not nearly as deep as the movie tried to make them seem. Although the lyrics seem elementary, they fit with the movie, which itself is very "bubble gum-like", however fun.
Music and Lyrics is the kind of movie that would only really be successful at this time of the year considering it is an over the top love story. Expect this film to pull every stop in the romantic comedy genre, and expect to hear women ogle over Hugh Grant's same old antics. Though it is corny at some moments, and raunchy in others, Music and Lyrics is an overall enjoyable movie that no guy should miss the chance of seeing with his date on Valentine's Day. This will be destined to become the date movie of the season.
Grade: B
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