Hugh Grant came full circle this year. He first gained attention way back in 1994 as the charming, bumbling Englishman with Four weddings and a Funeral ... and continued with this act until it got a little stale even with avid Hugh watchers. Then, came his new spiky haired, caddish persona with Bridget Jones - that of the bumbling womaniser, a little less charming this time around. I must admit this act wore very thin with me, so that in the last couple of years I have actively avoided any movies with Grant in them - Bridget Jones 2, the Sandra Bullock starrer, until I was blindsided by them being aired on network TV. And my opinion really didnt improve. Maybe, it had something to do with some ’Divine’ revelations in Hugh’s life too. So, just about the only thing I was looking forward to girls’ night out and Music and Lyrics was the single scoop of Haagen Dazs cherry fudge truffle which I was going to allow myself.
This apathy instantly wore away as the movie started with a wonderful pop music video of ’Pop Goes My Heart’ and my sundae melted away, forgotten and untouched, while I laughed alongwith the audience and started to enjoy myself. And Music and Lyrics is just that, warm and enjoyable.
Hugh Grant is Alex Fletcher, an 80s pop has-been. He now performs at amusement parks and reunion parties for those wanting a trip down notalgia lane. The difference here is that Grant knows he’s a has-been and has embraced it. When a deal for a reality show falls through, Alex’s agent (Brad Garrett) hooks him up with the newest teen sensation Cora (Haley Bennett), who wants him to write a song for her. The only problem is that Alex has never been much of a lyricist. He’s in luck though, his new plant water-er (er?), Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) has just that knack. And so the movie progresses with Grant trying to battle around Sophie’s insecurities until she does decide to write for him and Sophie starting to believe in the instant gratification and feel-good themes that Alex’s songs provide. But, when Cora threatens the integrity of their creation Sophie is shocked by the realisation that the realist in Alex is in this for the money. Will they be able to find the middle road between idealism and realism - watch the movie to find out.
The Wham-style music video which is shown at the beginning just sets the tone for this movie nicely, with the music, the hairdo’s, the costumes, the corny storyline in the video itself, so that anybody who lived through or is in love with the 80s will instantly identify with this one. Grant truly makes this movie, even though he is still a little bit spiky haired here, he is wonderful, charming his way through, poking fun at himself, executing his trademark ’dance’ movies until we start enjoying this as much as he is. His sense of comic timing is faultless and the rest of the cast only need to take their cues from him. Drew Barrymore, plays neurotic and sweet nicely. Brad Garrett, Kirsten Thompson round out the cast well, playing Alex’s manager and Sophie’s star-struck elder sister effortlessly. Mention must be made of Haley Bennett who plays the teen pop sensation Cora Corman with as much oomph and dedication as a Britney or Christina might have.
The story written and directed by Mark Lawrence does not have much originality going for it. The songs are not that great either, they’re generic, though hummable enough. In fact, even now a good 6 months after I watched, I can hum the chorus of some of the songs. They work just right for Grant’s character though ... enough to have given him some fame at the height of his career while allowing him to live off it now. The nice thing here is that the story, screenplay and songs do not come across as trite.
Even though it’s a been there-done that kind of story, you dont really get that feeling, the wit and humour is done well, the actors are believable. So, if you are a child of the 80s longing for a trip down memory lane or just want a pleasant watch, catch this one, the end-result is something that leaves you with that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
As for me, the first couple of minutes into the movie, I felt my heart go ’pop’ ... Sigh. I believe Hugh has just done it again.