Music and Lyrics

Rating: 4/10 (8 February 2010)

I had a vague idea of what to expect with the plot, and I knew the two leads, so I had to give it a chance and ignore the two star rating by the critics. Basically Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is the washed up member of 80's pop boy band PoP! now living a comfortable life in New York performing his old hits in theme parks, state fairs and dinner parties to survive. But then he gets the chance to really get his career back when reigning teen idol (obvious inspired by Shakira) singer and dancer Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) wants him to write a new song titled "A Way Back Into Love". He can do the music and melodies no problem, but he is not an inspired lyricist, and then he happens on the inspiration of poet Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), who comes round (temporarily) to water his plants. After eventually, the quick witted Sophie and Alex start to write what could be the perfect ballad, and in the process they also fall in love with each other. After Cora has approved the song, calling it the perfect song for her, she gives ideas for her interpretation of it, mixing an Indian style or something to it, which Sophie dislikes completely, and obviously Alex does as well, but he doesn't want to ruin the whole deal for business (and his career), so Sophie leaves him. So it comes to the big night when Cora is in concert, and Sophie's sister Rhonda (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me's Kristen Johnston) has insisted she come, as she did write the song, but instead of singing the song they wrote, Alex wins Sophie back with his own song he managed to write, and Cora does sing their song in the way intended. Also starring Brad Garrett as Chris Riley - Alex's agent, Campbell Scott as Sloan Cates and Scott Porter as Colin Thompson. I have to confess that quite a bit of me liked this film for its cheesiness, and I'm a sucker for pop songs like those featured in the film, their good and catchy fun. Anyway, Grant and Barrymore make quite a good couple, and there are some giggly moments, I can't see all the reasons why the film is two stars, but I can't say it's a brilliant romantic comedy. Okay!