Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are two actors that aren’t stars so much because they’re great thespians but because they can be enormously likeable, even when you’re not supposed to be sympathetic. In “Music and Lyrics” they crank up the charm without going overboard, and I have to say, it worked better than I would have imagined.
Grant plays an 80’s pop star (from a group aptly named “Pop!”) who sees an opportunity for comeback when a Britney Spears wannabe enlists him to help write her new hit. Barrymore is his plant maintenance girl that helps him crank out the new tune over the course of a week. There was much room for this to be screwed up or annoying, but it’s not. In fact, the rapport between the duo hard to turn away from. Grant’s performance is especially magnetic; his washed-up star isn’t a jerk, a hack, pathetic or even a womanizer, but a nice guy who misses the limelight. Though pic has its share of obvious (yet funny) 80’s jokes, there are moments of actual insight, such as when Grant defends the integrity of pop music. His performance here proves that while he makes a good asshole, he’s an even better when allowed to pursue our affection.
Like seemingly all romantic comedies, it climaxes with a grand display of his love for her, but the film plays the convention to its advantage instead of like a chore. This would have made a great date night for me if I’d know it was this good while it was still in theaters!
4 out of 5
1 comments:
I watched this movie in theaters with my friend Sumiko, and we both enjoyed it very much. For a romance movie, this was much better than I have ever seen as it didn't make me want to throw up my hands and storm out in frustration. Still, as a romance movie, it was kind of boring, I thought.
I see you rated it here a 4, but on your master list I remember it was a 3.5. I only remember because I mentioned this to you earlier saying I thought "The Devil Wears Prada" was better. I just watched Prada again tonight with my friend Minako, and I still like that movie a whole lot more. But you and I don't always agree on what movies are great.
This was also a good mini-review. I agree with everything you said about Grant and Barrymore.
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