Ohmigosh,er,er,it's Hugh Grant with a bit more balls but not much

Rating: 6/10 (9 January 2011)

Slightly less foppish than customary,Mr Grant is not altogether convincing as a faded pop star trying to hitch his waggon to a rising young phenomenon (Miss Haley Bennett stealing the movie rather effortlessly)in a slight variation of the "Star is born"(plot no 24 in the Hollywood Scriptwriters'Handbook). Competent at writing jingletunes,Mr Grant is at a loss for words,figuratively,when Miss Drew Barrymore comes into his life. Able to toss off a snappy lyric at will she helps him write a song for Miss Bennett that will make them rich and famous and kickstart his comeback. Miss Barrymore bears an unfortunate resemblance to a coy Stephen Fry - now that's an oxymoron for you - but that doesn't stop old Hugh from falling for her in his stammering ineffectual way. She has musical integrity but he has his snout deep in the trough. Rodgers and Hart they ain't. As usual in a Hugh Grant movie,nobody in it bears any resemblance to any real human being that ever drew breath,but if you accept that as a given and are feeling particularly uncritical you can let it all wash over you and come out the other side without having engaged either heart or brain.As usual in a Hugh Grant movie