Awesome stuff!

Rating: 9/10 (30 May 2007)

What does this movie have in common with The Wedding Singer? Well, they both star actors with the same birthday (Adam Sandler and Hugh Grant) as former pop stars anywhere from at least early 80s (in The Wedding Singer it only directly mentioned he was in '79), now preforming menial musical tasks, along with Drew Barrymore lending them a hand after they meet her at work...and they wind up falling for her despite challenging circumstances...Well, anyway, it seems like Music and Lyrics had the right things in common with The Wedding Singer, since it's about as enjoyable. 1/2 of the 80s duo Pop, Alex Fletcher lives in obscurity while his former partner is still successful and popular, partly because he claimed their final joint 3 hits as his own), only able to keep the meager supporters he has if he quickly composes a hit. When house-sitter Sophie Fisher happens to be at one of his numerous rocky additions to find a lyricist, she appears to be doing better than anyone he can meet, so he hires her. They're pretty different at first, drawn together only by her talent, but as time goes on and Alex begins to see hope for their work and that he'll actually gain some fame again with her advice and support, they become a little more than friends. Until a snag hits - it's not her engagement to a creep, but her reluctance to perform the song with a controversial teen-aimed Indian music video and his reluctance to voice his actually similar opinion to Cora Corman (Haley Bennet). This is a good movie with plenty of laughs but not so many bizarre oddities in the humor as The Wedding Singer - which is fine with me, even if it shoves most other characters into the role of minor ones so makes them and the plot a bit forgettable. I enjoyed how both characters learned from each other and it wasn't just a 1-way street experience. I didn't find the soundtrack quite as endearing, partly because it wasn't all 80s music, but did enjoy some songs, especially the old music video in the opening sequence. I thought the acting was great and the fact that Hugh Grant could sing was a pleasant surprise. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the Wedding Singer - and to a few who didn't.