| MUSIC AND LYRICS |
 2007 - USADirector: Marc Lawrence
- Reviewed by Jennifer
Music and Lyrics stars Hugh Grant as Alex Fletcher, a washed-up pop star from the 80's duo POP. He's the equivalent of Andrew Ridgeley from Wham!, and recent years have been unkind to him. After a failed comeback, he's been reduced to appearing on reality shows designed for has-beens and D-listers. Things only look up when a Shakira-wannabe (Haley Bennett) recruits Fletcher to write them a duet. It's part love letter to the 80's, part career stunt, but it's the best offer Alex has had in ages. The only problem is that he's not much good at writing songs. He scrambles to enlist a song-writing partner, only to find that all of the potential candidates are either insane or unqualified. But wait! Who's that watering plants in the corner? Could it be a shy poetess with a heart of gold? At this point Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) emerges as Alex Fletcher's last hope. She's got a way with words, but she insists she's not a song-writer, and wastes her time doing odd jobs or helping with her sister's business. Though smart and insightful, Sophie's spirit is all but broken after being betrayed by the esteemed college professor (Campbell Scott) with whom she was having an affair. Not only did he write a novel based upon her neuroses, now he's got a movie deal. This breach of trust would certainly be difficult to accept, but is she really going to take it lying down? Where's the girl who would set this slimeball on fire using the power of her mind? Somehow Sophie screws up her courage and helps Alex to craft the perfect song. The unlikely duo complement each other nicely and seem to compensate for one another's weaknesses. Together they are better able to face life's disappointments, but will Alex compromise Sophie's artistic integrity to better his career? All signs point to yes...which you know means no. Sooner or later Sophie will be leaping into Alex's arms and smothering him with kisses. Music and Lyrics is cute as romantic comedies go, but something is missing. Alex is witty and good-natured, but utterly one-dimensional, and Sophie is too insecure to be entirely likable. They're supposed to be as opposite as dreary Hugh and sunny Drew, but Sophie is so beaten down that their differences boil down to a few quirks—like Sophie clicks her pen a lot, and Alex doesn't like it when you make him sit in the corner. Yawn. It pains me to admit that supporting players Campbell Scott, Kristen Johnston, and Brad Garrett all have more onscreen presence than our milquetoast leads. Sophie and Alex ultimately prove that success is the best revenge, but the movie lags a bit as we delve into the inner-workings of the music business. Even more tiresome is the old will-they-or-won't-they question concerning Alex and Sophie's relationship. Every romantic comedy throws up a roadblock to romance, then spends twenty minutes pulling it down. It's like sitting through a construction delay on your way to a party—all you can do is wait, with a mild sense of irritation, for the flagger to let you pass. Luckily, once you get through, you're treated again to one of the most fabulous faux-Eighties music videos ever made. Watching Hugh Grant sing "Pop Goes My Heart" (and wind up in the ICU because his heart actually popped) almost redeems the movie. |
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I can't explain it, but Drew Barrymore always makes me cry. Whether she's burning up government agents in Firestarter or professing her love for butterflies on a talk show, her fierce optimism and unstoppable girl power gets me every time. I love that she overcame addiction and Former Child Star Syndrome to become one of the savviest businesswomen in Hollywood, and I love that I've never heard her say a bad word about anybody. She's like the best friend I've never met. That's why it troubles me that I didn't cry in Music and Lyrics. Not only were there no tears, I didn't even choke up. How could this be when lightweights like 