Music and Lyrics - John Grant

I must admit that some of Hugh Grant’s movies haven’t quite hit the spot for me but Music and Lyrics had the audience and myself laughing all the way through. The lines were quick witted so you’ll need to be on your toes to get the full effect.
Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a washed up pop star from a well known group of the 1980's which were renowned for their hip gyrating dancing. He is performing around the club scene and at special events with a following of women in their 30's. Alex's enterprising manager lands him a chance to write a hit single for current pop diva Cora (new comer Haley Bennett) because she thinks he has retro appeal. The only catch in the arrangement with Cora is he only has until the end of the week to come up with something that has alluded him for a long time (a hit song!). Alex makes the logical choice and hires a songwriter to write the lyrics while he does what he is good at and adds a pleasing melody. They are in the middle of putting it together when Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) enters the scene as the plant maintenance lady. While going about her duties she suddenly pipes up with a catchy phrase to the lyrics that are being composed. Alex ditches the hired songwriter and teams up with Sophie to tap into her natural talent. Together they work out the hit song and at the same time meet the real challenges that lie within their lives. For Alex the challenge was to work from his heart and not be so consumed with achieving success that the result was mediocre. For Sophie the challenge was to overcome and refute the negative statements that were spoken over her by a previous boyfriend who said she had no orginal talent and merely drew on the work of others. Both personal challenges are overcome in this "happy ever after" movie.

A good romantic comedy send up of the ageing pop star. Entertainment value 7 out of 10 (the critics gave favourable if cautious approval) and $38,673,388 from the US box office alone is not too bad a result.

Rating: 7 / 10