Radio Lady Reviews: "Music and Lyrics" (Opens 2/14/07)

[Radio_Lady]

I left my husband at home and took my best gal pal to see what turns out to be a first-rate romantic comedy. It’s funny and sweet, with some really good music, too. Just the right recipe for a romantic Valentine’s Day (Wednesday) opening. We both left the theater humming and hopefully sustained through our cold-hearted, mid-winter weather.

Really, Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore make sweet music together. The film is catchy and well-crafted. It’s the kind of film that will certainly attract critical contempt. I believe that most reviewers will give it a low score. (Editor’s note: They already have.) However, in my opinion, “Music and Lyrics” is good enough to capture an audience. It’s far superior and may have wider appeal than other critics imagine. This is a highly entertaining little comedy that soars far above the usual level of chick-flick, with excellent performances from Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.

Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a has-been pop star from the 80’s. He's now pretty much forgotten and plays his antiquated songs to aging ex-fans at second-rate amusement parks. His career has descended into virtual anonymity and he is contemplating taking part in a TV fight-series where 80’s stars have to beat the living daylights out of each other – in the boxing ring!

Then, a blonde teenage pop singer invites Alex to write and record a duet with her. The only trouble is that Alex hasn't written any kind of song – let alone a hit – for years. What’s more, he's never actually written a lyric, and it has to be done in only a few days. Extravagantly pretty newcomer Haley Bennett is gorgeous, and looks, moves and sings like an angel. Not much acting talent here, but who cares?

Enter Sophie Fisher (Barrymore) who waters his plants but has a dry wit. Clearly, these two are made for each other, professionally and personally. Unfortunately, Sophie has lost her self-confidence as a writer after a bad experience with a newly successful novelist (the sassy and sexy Campbell Scott).

The plot unfolds in more-or-less expected ways and it's helped along by a surprisingly warm-hearted and literate script, and jolly supporting performances by Kristen Johnston, as Sophie's elder sister and Alex's biggest fan, and Brad Garrett, (formerly Rob in “Everybody Loves Raymond”) as Alex's manager.

Ms. Barrymore has perfected the art of quirkiness without being tiresome. She has that unique quality of expressing dewy-eyed adoration. She glows while playing opposite Grant, who has much greater natural charisma and sex appeal. Marc Lawrence’s script and direction is above average for this genre and “Music and Lyrics” has so many laugh-out-loud one-liners that my woman friend and I chuckled through pretty much the whole film, along with a grateful preview audience.

“Music and Lyrics” gives Grant the chance to sing and play the piano, both of which he does more than capably. He's helped no end by Adam Schlesinger, who wrote the infuriatingly catchy title song for Tom Hanks' “That Thing You Do,” and does even better here. Two songs in this movie – “Way Back Into Love” and “Don't Write Me Off” — could make Hugh Grant an unlikely singing star.

The film isn't perfect. There isn't all that much at stake, and the chemistry between Grant and Barrymore is more funny and romantic than it is sexual. There was one other fairly small fault that is in the eye of this beholder. I like men with a nice smile and well aligned teeth. Hugh Grant has some of the worst tooth placement I’ve ever seen in a film star. They are crooked to a degree that causes me to wince when his teeth are visible in his smiles. But his charming British accent makes up for it. I’m sure he won’t want to wear braces at his age!

I’m giving “Music and Lyrics” a “B” on Ellen’s Entertainment Report card. Enjoy!

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Genre: Romance, Comedy
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
Runtime: USA:96 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color

[Radio_Lady]

1. Technical problem: The emoticon with his tongue hanging out should read Runtime: 96 minutes.

Apparently, we can choose NO EMOTICONS in the regular post, but when it moves to a journal, we get them whether we want them or not.

[Radio_Lady]

2. UPDATE: The music from this movie is pretty neat! Wonder if those of us who remember the '80s

fondly will purchase it.

Ring tones also available.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Have any of you seen the movie... or planning to see it this weekend?

YOU DO THE REVIEW!

Let us know whether you liked it or not!

In peace,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[MedleyMisty]

4. My husband wants to see it

Yes, he's much more of a fan of romantic comedies than I am. Actually, we turn most gender stereotypes on their heads.

Your review has made me a bit less scared, and if he drags me to it this weekend I'll come back to this thread and say what I thought.

[Radio_Lady]

5. Sleebarker, it wasn't the worst comedy I've ever seen and the music is kind of neat!

Perhaps you'll like it, too!

I'd appreciate your opinion.

[Radio_Lady]

11. "Music and Lyrics" is number 4 on last week's opening films.

Final numbers are always posted on Monday.

[Radio_Lady]

6. Metacritic.com has it at 59/100 "Mixed or Average Reviews."

Overall Metascore
This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).
59 / 100

Critic Reviews

83 Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold
The movie is an unusually witty and intelligent romantic comedy and Hollywood's best Valentine's Day gift in years.

75 USA Today Claudia Puig
This appealing romantic comedy undertakes the conventions of the formula without an inordinate amount of clichés. Music also infuses the overall plot with a satire of the music industry, and the pop tunes and lyrics are catchy.

75 Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow
This movie doesn't pretend to be anything more than a cheerful night out, and on that count it scores.

75 Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman
The planets aligned favorably, and this "Music" is sweet without cloying the appetite. It follows the meetcute-kissyface-breakup-reunion pattern of most of its kind, but the behavior seems more genuine and the situations less forced.

75 ReelViews James Berardinelli
Music and Lyrics is frequently appealing, often witty, and occasionally funny, but it's not going to convert skeptics and cynics into sentimentalists.

75 Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips
Grant and Barrymore are very enjoyable together onscreen. Who would've guessed that Barrymore would turn into such a deft comedian?

75 New York Daily News Jack Mathews
As a premise, this is thinner than a strand of cotton candy, but fairy tales have been hung from less, and what keeps this one together is the surprisingly easy chemistry between Grant and Barrymore.

75 Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
The two generate more heart than they do heat, but that's the point. You want to see them together not just because they're adorable, but because you believe that their characters can take each other to a place neither could get to on their own.

75 San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
Lawrence's take on pop music success is exactly right, satiric without being absurdist, and therefore a prize worth the effort.

75 The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps
The film's a bit like a dessert that could have been dinner, particularly with so many winning elements (including songs by Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger and a brief appearance from a wickedly sleazy Campbell Scott). But dessert isn't a bad thing either, particularly when it's prepared with this much heart.

70 Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek
It may be slight, but it's also buoyant and pleasurable, partly because the leads make the whole thing feel like a spontaneous duet. Lawrence trusts them to carry the picture, without feeling the need to throw in a lot of extraneous fluff.

70 Washington Post Stephen Hunter
I don't think the ending is up to the rest of the movie, but Grant and Barrymore are great together, and the movie has both zing and song.

70 The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen
An agreeably loopy romantic comedy that bounces along effortlessly on the genuine chemistry of leads Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.

70 Variety Todd McCarthy
Grant carries the day as the fortysomething lad still living off his youth and just about getting away with it.

67 Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Grant is game for a new level of meta-ha-ha, joke's-on-me in Music and Lyrics. But with Drew Barrymore as his costar, this bland, light romantic comedy insists on keeping the commentary as disposable as one of the '80s gumball tunes Grant used to swivel to as Alex Fletcher, a washed-up '80s pop star.

63 Boston Globe Ty Burr
In the end, the movie's just the kind of enjoyably empty-headed fluff it celebrates and mocks. It sits up, it begs, eventually it plays dead, and still you want to pat it on the head. It's a good dog.

63 The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey
Fortunately, director-writer Marc Lawrence (he also created the Hugh Grant-Sandra Bullock comedy "Two Weeks Notice") manages saccharine saturation by tempering his stars' familiar appeal with enough dry wit to make this low-key romantic comedy a not-too-sticky Valentine's Day offering.

[mvd]

7. Thanks for the review, Radio_Lady

I've always liked Drew as an actress, so I'll consider seeing this film. Her off- screen personality can translate to the screen. In interviews, Drew is one of the most uplifting people I've seen. I used to have a big crush on her, and still have something for her, but I've cut my crush list in half since I first created it - so it's harder to get in.

I enjoy your reviews. I'm not much of a movie fan, but I think I can tell a good reviewer when I see one.

[Radio_Lady]

9. Why, thank you, mvd... it's so kind of you to say that.

I've been reviewing since the early 1970s, and I guess I've learned a thing or two since then.

I wish I had saved those TYPED reviews, but alas, they got lost in our attic in Massachusetts, and I must have thrown them out in haste years before we moved to Oregon.

Included were all my WONDERFUL reviews for the "Benji" movies, lots of "blacksploitation" films, and the various episodes of Billy Jack. I also reviewed theater -- saw some wonderful things and some plays that closed out of town before going to Broadway.

Probably pretty forgettable... however, it would be nice to have them.

In peace,

Radio Lady

[driver8]

8. I saw this movie the other night at work -- I thought it was cute.

That damn song "Pop Goes My Heart" had been running through my head for days!!

Drew Barrymore is cute, as usual and Hugh Grant good in this, also. The girl who played the "Britney Spears" type character was awesome, and I loved the end when she and Hugh were singing together on stage.

A little trivia for you; Adam Schlesinger is a member of one of my favorite bands, "Fountains of Wayne." He is a great song writer and if you like power pop, check out his band.

[Radio_Lady]

10. Yes, the music is really excellent. The "Fountains of Wayne"... what an interesting name!

People at the preview said that Hugh Grant might become a singer in spite of himself. He sounded about as good as some of the better wanna-bee singers on "American Idol."

[Control-Z]

12. Thank you for the review, Radio_Lady

I was worried about this film. I love Drew and have been entertained by Hugh Grant in the past but, you know how it goes, when they've got a dog on their hands they try to salvage what they can in sales the first weekend. With all the advertising I've seen I was afraid that was the case with "Music and Lyrics". I didn't know if there were any funny lines left to deliver. We'll probably see it tomorrow night.

[Radio_Lady]

13. See my post #6 for a sampling of movie reviews. I'll be interested in your take on this comedy.

Happy holiday! Are you doing some special things?

[AlCzervik]

14. i totally missed your review, i'm gong to see this today with my daughter.

:hi:

it was either this or Norbit, i have no interest in Norbit at all.

[Bonhomme Richard]

15. I saw it with my wife over the weekend and.................

enjoyed the movie. I found it both funny and touching at the same time. Then again I think I have a thing for Drew Barrymaore but that's another story.
I kidded some friends that I had to go see that with her so she would go see 300 Spartans with me when it's released.

[Radio_Lady]

16. Yes, I know about those bargains we married (or dating) folk make with each other.

For every action or science fiction movie, I have to extract a promise to be able to drag him along to romantic comedies.

However, for this one, I took a woman friend. My husband doesn't know much about popular music and I thought he would want to leave early. My friend told me she was singing the music days later!

[wildhorses]

17. i like hugh grant --and a well done romance is just the thing

for a cold winter's night!! thanks for the reveiw radio_lady:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

18. What a nice post! Thanks, Wild Horses!

[sundog]

19. kick

:kick:

[supernova]

20. I will probably go see it on Friday

Thanks for your review RadioLady. :-)

I like both DB and HG, so both of them should be good. I can't believe he learned to play for this movie, that's quite a job to do on such short notice. He must have some natural ability. (Extremely irritating to those of us who had to practice for years to become not-quite-so-painful to listen to.)