Forgivable

Rating: 5/10 (16 May 2007)

There may be cheesy parts here and there but they're all forgivable because this movie totally works... for the most part.
Mark Gamaya did a good (not Sleepless in Seattle / Say Anything good) job with the overall plot. Alex Fletcher being a washed up 80's pop star would sound so familiar to the music industry - with has-beens always out looking for comeback hits to keep up with the endless strings of new, shiny and fresh so-called talents Hollywood keep popping out with. Plus, the constant references t the music market ploys and happenings are priceless.
The characters are believable. There's always an Alex Fletcher in every pop group or boy band such as there always will be a Colin in each one (Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, etc.). Cora, of course, has Britney Spears spot on.
Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are, of course, veterans of romantic comedies so there really is no surprise in their acting. It seemed like the characters were tailormade for both celebrities. Drew Barrymore is certainly no stranger to dating musicians having been dating (my fave garage rockers) The Strokes' drummer, Fabrizio Moretti for four and a half years. Another veteran comedic actor , Brad Garrett (of Everybody Loves Raymond fame) added that extra something to the flick.
Being a film about music, one would think that it would sell most with its soundtrack. But the only big hit was the main song, Way Back Into Love... although Pop! Goes My Heart also made a subtle impression of itself. And Briteny's lyricists would certainyl be proud of Cora's: "Mama says I can't, Daddy says I can. But again my body just wants to slam..." Editing were a bit off but, like I said, forgivable. Tsktsk, Mark Lawrence.
What I love most about the movie is the message that came with the title: The melody is like the physical aspect of a relationship... sex. The lyrics is the story underneath... getting to know each other. It's the combination of both that makes it magic.