Weekend Movie Review: Music and Lyrics

Music and Lyrics

ROMANTIC COMEDY

2 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Cast: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Haley Bennett, Brad Garrett

Background: I met my husband in college. Though he’s now a high school and community college math teacher, he graduated with a degree in Music Composition. I, of course, was an English major. When I saw Music and Lyrics advertised, I knew this was our movie! I wanted to see it so badly that I couldn’t wait until the weekend when my husband was available (he was teaching a college class the night it came out) and so took another of my valentines (my 14-year-old son) to see it with me on February 14.

In the movie, has-been pop star Alex (Hugh), is given the opportunity to write a song in something like a week for the latest teen sensation. Alex is desperate for the chance, but he’s the music guy, and he’s never written lyrics before. Enter (literally) the woman who is his substitute plant-waterer. As he tries working with a lyricist, plant girl Sophie (Drew) mumbles a few lines that Alex judges to be golden. After predictable (but hardly credible) protestations, Sophie agrees to work with Alex.

This movie is about…

The characters learn from the story that…

Well, the title of their song is “Way Back Into Love” and Sophie had a somewhat recent heartbreak so maybe it’s about that, about Sophie finding a way back into love and Alex finding a way back into the music business. Maybe. There’s a bit there about being true to your artistic intentions, but I couldn’t quite buy Sophie telling Alex that his songs (remember, pop music) are “dinner,” and not “dessert”—meaning they aren't just fluff. But I was asking myself, “What’s wrong with dessert? I love dessert!"

I was asking myself a lot of things during the movie. How come Drew Barrymore is like the cutest actress on the planet even though she’s in her early thirties? How come Hugh Grant has that weird short hair? Would I like the movie better if it was his usual wonderful flop of glossy brown? Worse, my meandering thoughts turned to what they could have done to make the story better. What if they’d been partners once in the past and had romantically burned each other? What if then this great opportunity came their way and they were forced to collaborate again? What if they then had to work through their earlier problems and really found their “Way Back Into Love”?

What if this movie, then, actually had a conflict?

Drew Barrymore, as noted above, is incredibly likeable on screen. The role called for her to be too ditzy in a couple of places, but she did it with so much charm I didn’t care. As for Hugh, well, he was his usual humble and dry-humored self. Together, though, I didn’t feel any chemistry between them, which was a disappointment.

And that sums up my review of the movie. A disappointment.

However, the 14-year-old and I walked back to the car humming Alex and Sophie’s song. I can’t recall a note of it now, but like the entire film, it was pleasant enough while it lasted.

Let’s hear what you think!

Debra - MONDAY MORNING REVIEW

Because I Said So...

ROMANTIC COMEDY
3 1/2 stars (out of 5 stars)

Cast: Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Gabriel Macht, Tom Everett Scott, Lauren Graham, Piper Perabo, Stephen Collins

I have to admit that I went to see this movie because I'm a fan of Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls). The trailer during Gilmore Girls last week made it seem like she had a much bigger role. Unfortunately she was on screen too little to make me happy.

The movie is really about the relationship between a meddling mother (Diane Keaton) who just wants all her daughters to be happily married and her youngest daughter (Mandy Moore) who can't seem to put a decent relationship together despite being attractive, a business owner, genuine and kind. The MM (meddling mom) has a nasty little habit of offering well-meaning advice that slices through her younger daughter's confidence.

Somehow MM's character is deftly played by Keaton and you truly believe she loves her daughter and wants to help rather than sticking in nasty jabs here and there as a power trip. MM is just clueless. Can't buy a clue. Wouldn't know a clue if it fell on her head. And doesn't know why she's so driven to see all of her daughters happy. Her motivation will be revealed to her as the events unfold. The viewer is pretty certain from the get go that MM wants her childen to avoid a long lonely life. She's raised them by herself and hasn't been in a romantic relationship/had a partner in ages. In one particularly touching scene we find out that she's never had an orgasm.

But let's get back to the action...

Instead of backing off as her daughter has asked, she places an online personals ad to interview men for her daughter. (mistake #1) After a disasterous number of men, she finds one that seems perfect. One a lot like her. An important, structured architect. (mistake #2) Meanwhile, a completely charming young musician with a 50's Brat Pack essence has watched her for most of the day and helps her out of a jam. He thinks he might like her daughter and throws his hat into the ring. MM turns him down. (mistake #3) So the charming young musician palms a card for the daughter's business from the table and arranges his own meeting.

The movie is predictable but fun. Comedy unfolds as the daughter juggles two men and her meddling mom and seeks the advice of her sisters. Gabriel Macht who plays the muscian is yummy and he's a stand-up guy with a young dynamo for a son. It's fun to watch the MM begin to realize her flaws and needs. There's a romance thrown in for her (Stephen Collins who is the father of the yummy musician). And did I mention Gabriel Macht?? Yummy.

If you're a romantic comedy buff, give this one a look at the theater. My husband even enjoyed it. Not the best romantic comedy ever but a lovely way to spend the afternoon with a salted pretzel.