>>REVIEW
MUSIC AND LYRICS
STARRING Drew Barrymore, Hugh Grant
DIRECTED BY Marc Lawrence
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Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant are stars synonymous with successful romantic comedies. So, it’s no surprise that the two star together in Music and Lyrics. Strangely, however, the dynamic between them, though enjoyable, is a tad awkward and seems almost forced at times.
Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a washed-up has-been who is living off the residual popularity of his glory days. In the ’80s, he co-fronted a widely successful pop band named POP. He currently plays solo at small gigs where he can still make a few middle-aged ladies swoon with his gyrating hips.
The floundering Fletcher is approached by the representatives of Cora Corman – a pop tart bigger than both Britney and Christina put together – and asked to write a song for her by the end of the week. Able to put a melody together, but by no means a gifted lyricist, Fletcher is desperate to find someone to share the load. That’s where Barrymore’s character, Sophie Fisher, comes in.
Hired to water Fletcher’s plants, Sophie’s way with words is discovered as she rhymes some lines to Fletcher’s piano playing whilst tending to the ferns. The pair spend days and nights writing together and ,of course, Cora loves the song they produce for her. Things get a little complicated as Sophie and Alex start falling for each other and a past heartbreak comes to light. Brad Garrett is quite funny as Fletcher’s manager, and Kristen Johnson is amusing as Sophie’s POP-obsessed older sister.
Music and Lyrics was vaguely satisfying, but left me unconvinced, sort of like a Britney Spears song. If Grant’s character had stayed unsuccessful and Sophie’s past hurt been explored with further attention and care, the film might have been more intriguing. Barrymore is cute and sweet in the role of Sophie, but for someone who has been in the entertainment business all of her life, she picks the most redundant roles. Grant is his usual witty and charming self, but something in his eyes gives him away – it’s as though he’s too arrogant to give the character genuine feelings.
Music and Lyrics didn’t go above and beyond the clichés of the overdone romantic comedy and the result, though in tune, is like the slick song Alex and Sophie write for Cora – reasonably pleasant, but devoid of any genuine substance or originality. |
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