Music & Lyrics
By Lindsey Lawrence, Blockbuster.co.uk

Music & Lyrics is the latest comedy from director Marc Lawrence (previous works including ‘Miss Congeniality’ and ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’) starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.

In summary, Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a washed up 80’s pop-star (the Andrew Ridgeley to Wham’s George Michael), who is reduced to playing gigs at school reunions, Apple-Picking festivals and the like. His long suffering manager, played by Brad Garrett (better known as Robert from ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’) secures him the chance to rescue his career by writing a new hit for the Britney Spears-a-like pop diva of the moment “Cora” (newcomer Haley Bennett). Fletcher, however is a melody man and is stuck for words (quite literally) until up steps his plant-watering lady (who can do without one?!) Sophie Fisher (Barrymore). She by sheer coincidence is a writer and after much Grant-style begging and persuasion, a brilliant lyricist.

Already a Grant fan, having thoroughly enjoyed ‘Love Actually’ and ‘About a Boy’, I hoped that his trademark fast-paced humour and idiotic charm would be present and they were – in abundance. I also had a soft spot for Barrymore having enjoyed her previous bubbly and often naïve charm in ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and ‘50 First Dates’.

I anticipated that their qualities would work well together and I wasn’t disappointed. The chemistry between them was not immediate but as the plot developed so did the closeness between their on-screen characters and this was part of the appeal of the whole film. The real magic is watching the pair put words to music and as their song progresses so does their relationship. However, the course of true love never runs smoothly and there are some stubborn wrinkles these two have to iron out.

There were two things about this film that made it stand out from your typical rom-com. Number one, my husband not only sat through it but admitted that he enjoyed it (how much that had to do with the half-naked Cora I don’t know!) Secondly the take on the music industry with the glamour and parties on one hand and on the other, the trials and tribulations of those behind the scenes gave the plot the depth that’s usually lacking in this type of movie. The concert scenes were by far my favourites and helped to make this into the funny, feel-good film that it is.

Don’t miss it!

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