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Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore have pretty much made their careers from playing star-crossed lovers in a series of romantic comedies and dramas, so "Music and Lyrics" would seem inevitable and finally restores this cosmic balance, bringing them together. Finally. Grant and Barrymore each have their own 'shtick'; Grant's characters usually make quick self-deprecating remarks providing humor to liven up the proceedings and Barrymore's characters are usually more than a little manic, allowing her to be slightly off-putting to her potential mates until they learn she is really just a loveable goof. And each of these actors sticks close to their playbooks throughout this new romantic comedy, yet "Music" doesn't provide the lyrics necessary for a hit. The idea behind "Music and Lyrics" is; Cora (Hayley Bennett), a Britney Spears-like pop princess, is a fan of Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), the Andrew Ridgely-like member of a popular 80's pop group named Pop (think "Wham"). Now washed up and counting on upcoming appearances at Knott's Berry Farm and high school reunions to pay for his big New York apartment, he quickly agrees to write a song for the pop princess and sing it as a duet with her for her new album. Only one problem; he doesn't write lyrics, he writes the music. As he works with a lyricist provided by his agent (Brad Garrett), the new plant lady, Sophie (Drew Barrymore) arrives to water the plants. As the two men work on the song, Sophie starts making up her own lyrics, prompting Alex to ask her to help him. As they are on a tight deadline, they spend a lot of time together and grow closer, providing the music and lyrics for a new song that may become a hit. "Music and Lyrics", written and directed by Marc Lawrence ("Two Weeks Notice", "Miss Congeniality", enough said), uses a promising enough hook to bring the two actors together, but both actors have done better, so much better in other projects, this film is a let down. The film starts promisingly, showing a music video Pop made in the mid 80s. The music video captures the look and feel of this era to a T, showing Alex (Grant) and Colin Thompson (Scott Porter) prancing around a sound stage with their band mechanically copying their moves. After this, we learn that Fletcher and Thompson parted ways in 1991, with Thompson moving on to a successful solo and movie career. Fletcher has struggled, so much so that he is now seriously considering participating in a reality show called "Battle of the 80s Has Beens". His agent arrives at his big New York apartment and tells him he has received a request from the reigning pop princess, Cora. She is a fan of Fletcher's and wants him to write a song for her new album, the only problem is the song needs to be completed by Friday. So, let's stop here for a moment. Every great fairy tale and fantasy has at least some basis in reality. And a good romantic comedy is at least a few parts fantasy. So, "Music and Lyrics" should have some basis in reality, right? If Alex Fletcher has struggled for so many years, playing at Knott's Berry Farm and high school reunions, how has he managed to hold on to his big New York apartment, complete with grand piano and balcony? You may immediately assume that he is living off the money he made during his days of excess, in the 80s, but no, the film banishes that possibility with a quick remark from Fletcher. From the moment Sophie enters his life, she is a whirlwind of words and movement. She nervously goes about watering the plants, talking, etc. Barrymore should really trademark this type of role, because she has played it so often. The idea s that she is initially so oft-putting to any potential mate, making it all the more cute when they realize she has potential and they fall in love. This also provides the "Meet Cute" moment which is required of any romantic comedy. See, she is filling in for the normal person who takes care of his plants. Her whirlwind of activity immediately draws Fletcher's eye as he regards her curiously. When Alex realizes she can write lyrics, he asks her to help out and since they have very little time to compose the song, they have to spend a lot of time together, in his apartment. During this time, a romance blooms. Presumably. Both actors work very hard to create a spark, but nothing happens, the romance never appears. After they finish the song, they present it to the pop princess, who will sing it at Madison Square Garden, the opening night of her new tour. This is the second part of the film that is pretty amusing, also because it is so dead on. Hayley Bennett does a great job of portraying, or maybe channeling is the right word, the spirit of Spears and all other pop princesses. Having recently found 'religion', her new tour is designed around a large Buddha on the stage. It won't fit. Please read the full review at thornhillatthemovies.com email this review to a friend
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