An evening show of Music and Lyrics was supposedly the best gift that one could give his/her valentine on the 14th earlier this month.
I guess me being ’single’, I saw it a tad late(today being 19th February).But nonetheless I did see it.
Music and Lyrics is the story of a now-faded pop star Alex Fletcher(Hugh
Grant) and a girl who helps her sister run a weight reduction company(Drew Barrymore).They happen to meet up by chance and together they come up with some really lovely lyrics and melodies.Well thats the
story in a nutshell.
Far as performances goes...I’d say both leads were damn good.Hugh Grant as the faded pop star with his low-in-life nature and hip shakes is easily the best suited for the role.Drew Barrymore(oh I just lover her dimples)is efficient as the girl always under her sister’s shadow and a girl who has always been taken advantage of.Haley Bennett as a current pop diva makes her
presence felt as she almost mimics today’s pop queens with the minimal clothing and hip shakes and all.
The movie has several flaws.
1)The chemistry between the lead pair being the first.Hugh and Drew just don’t have that chemistry that Hugh Grant-Julia Roberts(Notting Hill), Jude Law-Cameron Diaz(The Holiday) or even Keanu Reeves-Charlize Theron(Sweet November)share.Individually they’re good....as a pair they don’t gel.
2)Secondly the movie has an extremely abrupt ending.I wanted the director to pack in another 5 mins. for a sequence where Drew Barrymore finally musters up courage to give it in the face to her
college professor(Sloan Cates being played by Campbell Scott) who usesher.
3)The romance between the lead characters has not been developed properly except that they sleep once(which I felt was a part that was not needed).
4)The first half of the film is too slow and quite a drag actually.It picks up pace in the second half.
All in all....you can skip it easily....unless you’re a big fan of Hugh
Grant or Drew Barrymore who are damn good albeit individually.