Music and Lyrics (2007)

Utterly formulaic - and utterly delightful.

Hugh Grant is the floundering has been of the 1980s musical scene, now relegated to playing high school reunions and amusement parks. His talent as a lyricist has vanished.

Drew Barrymore is surprisingly good at the ditz substituting for the regular plant waterer. (Yes, plant waterer.)

Grant is offered the opportunity to write a new song for a pop tart rock queen, Cora Corman played by the drop-dead gorgeous and talented Haley Bennett.

You can guess the rest. Grant needs to come up with lyrics in a few days . . . and Barrymore is a natural. Boy meets girl and all that.

It all works out in the end, of course.

This is just a sweet, utterly predictable romance made remarkable by the excellent performances by Grant and Barrymore and the extraordinary presence of Bennett. Just a lot of fun.

Jerry October 17, 2008

Catchy

I love the music in this movie! It makes fun of 80s and modern music equally. I like both Grant and Barrymore, but think they're an odd couple. Garrett is perfect in his role as the agent friend, as is Johnson as the 80s crazed sister. The music keeps getting stuck in my head. This is another good chick-flick night movie. October 5, 2008

Excellent

This DVD was in excellent condition and the story is a family favorite! Hugh Grant is hilarious and Drew Barrymore couldn't be cuter! September 29, 2008

How could you not love this?

I had very low expectations of this movie but was pleasantly surprised at this delightful little treat. It's Hugh Grant at his best. Drew Barrymore is perfect as the slightly wacky plant-sitter, Sophie, who ends up teaming with Alex to write a song for the newest, hottest, young singing star, Cora (think Britney Spears in the 90's).
Alex thinks the music is the most important part but Sophie tells him that the music is like when you first meet someone but the lyrics are the story, what you learn you get to know them. Big surprise -- this proves to be true for them, too.
The song they write "A Way Back into Love" could be the theme song for their relationship. They each have their own kind of insecurities and neuroses and their partnership -- and love for each other --ultimately helps them grow and become much more than they were before. Along the way there's some very cleaver dialogue; hilarious, spot-on musical performances from Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett (Cora); and a great performance from Kristen Johnson as Sophie's sister Rhonda.
Ok, so the end is a little sappy but it doesn't take away from the magic that happens when the music and lyrics come together. September 17, 2008

Delightful and whimsical ... first movie I LIKE Hugh Grant in ...

Drew Barrymore is just a sweetie! I loved her in "50 first dates", "The Wedding Singer", and as the voice of the girlfriend in "Curious George".

Hugh Grant has always been cast in roles I just don't like - a playboy and an inconsiderate poop.

FINALLY Hugh Grant shows some glimmer of growing up (at least on screen)! He and Drew's character hook up and they eventually move in together (after the credits roll, of course).

In the meantime, however, he plays the fading pop star. Drew (who is MUCH younger than his character) happens into his life and they are "lucky" enough to "bump" into each other and write a hit song.

I've watched it at least 15 times, and still put it on in the background because the music is just so good and the plot is just so simple and cute. I can't believe Hugh has such a nice voice - he missed his calling as a true pop star!

Hayley Bennett is really annoying (in a good way) as Cora, and the finished song sounds great with her and Hugh singing it!

Chick flick to the max, but any guy that watches it with his sweetie definitely earns brownie points!

Very enjoyable. September 3, 2008

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