Sweet and Charming!

Rating: 9/10 (28 October 2014)

Music and Lyrics is actually one of the better rom-coms made in the past decade. It's a little cheesy, but who can't resist the sappiness and charm of the film which works thanks to the two irresistible stars and an excellent soundtrack. As a fan of 80's music, I know a thing or two about washed-up musicians, so I enjoyed the film even more. I'm one of those people who believe in this sort of love, so I was even more interested. Finally, I also love the inside joke this movie makes about modern pop music. Those who like 70's/80's music know what I'm talking about.
Marc Lawrence's film is about a man named Alex Fletcher who is a has-been star of the 80's hit band, POP!. When a young famous musician in the style of Lady Gaga asks him to write a song, he needs to find a lyricist fast. When he learns how talented his plant lady is with words, they become an unexpected pair with an unexpected romance.
This film really works because of Hugh Grant's charm and Drew Barrymore's sweetness. I never knew that Grant could sing, but does he ever have a good voice! And as usual, he is good at being funny. Drew Barrymore has always been a respectable actress and that continues her as the flawed plant girl who is afraid to stand up for herself. Haley Bennett does a good job portraying the typical modern pop star in the vein of Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.
Overall, Music and Lyrics is a sweet though unusual rom-com. This film is almost like a musical, and it works big time. The soundtrack is very catchy and honestly the songs sung in the film will be a good addition to my expansive collection of songs on my Ipod. It's well-written, which it should be since a good portion of the plot is based around writing. Now this is the kind of smart rom-com I want to see on Valentine's Day. I rate this film 9/10.