"Grant, Barrymore, Work Their Way Back Into Audiences Hearts in "Music and Lyrics"

Rating: Null/10 (8 March 2007)

Hugh Grant sings.
Hugh Grant dances.
"Music and Lyrics" provides Grant with an outlet to put both talents to a good (and highly entertaining) use. The movie, released on Valentine's Day (you can either groan or sigh), is the perfect film to make you believe in love again (even if it is only for the hour and thirty six minutes the film runs).
The movie begins with Alex Fletcher (Grant) and his "PoP!" band mates hamming it up Wham! style in an outlandish "Pop! Goes My Heart" music video. The video includes a near fatal Alex in an operating room-but when he finds love, his heart "pops!" after falling in love with a nurse.
Fifteen years after the band breaks up in 1992, Alex is offered an appearance on "Battle of the 80's Has-Beens." The competition turns out to be a boxing match for former stars. He declines.
Life seems down for Alex (who has been resigned to playing state fairs, high school reunions and amusement park gigs) but in walks Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) to water his plants. While Sophie shows no promise as a plant caretaker (she waters a fake one), she has a natural talent for lyric writing. This comes in handy since Alex is writing a song for Indian influenced-"Entering Bootytown" singing Cora Corman (newcomer Haley Bennett) in less than a week and is more of a music writer than a lyric writer. His past attempts at song writing include the lyrics: "Figuring out you and me/is like doing a love autopsy." Not exactly happy thoughts.
Alex and Sophie work together to write "Way Back Into Love" for a possible Alex and Cora concert performance. The two find themselves falling for each other during their writing bootcamp. The also find each has their own set of baggage. Alex is coming to grips with the fact his heydays are over. Sophie is suffering after being unflatteringly portrayed in her former writing teacher Sloan Cates' (Campbell Scott) book, which claims she used him to get ahead with her own writing career.
But their new found happiness is broken like a guitar string when Alex and Sophie clash over Cora's rendition of their song.
While "Music and Lyrics" is highly predictable, director and writer Marc Lawrence (who worked with Grant in 2002's "Two Weeks Notice") presents the movie in a way audiences can forget the cuteness of it all and settle in for an enjoyable time at the show. The witty songs combined with equally entertaining conversation made me forget I had the movie pegged after one viewing of the movie trailer.
The biggest surprise is how well Grant, Barrymore and Bennett all sing. Grant previously showcased his abilities in a school talent show in 2002's "About a Boy" singing "Killing Me Softly." He continues with a strong effort in "Music and Lyrics." Grant also looks at home playing the piano and working his magic with his home recording studio.
Barrymore is a perfect vocal accompaniment after getting over her initial nervousness. Bennett is as talented as the majority of today's pop acts and interestingly enough is currently working on her debut album according to the "Music and Lyrics" website.
The songs in "Music and Lyrics" are extremely catchy, though many are cheesy (but in a cute way). After purchasing the soundtrack a few days after seeing the movie, the CD became a staple on the drive to school. I found myself duetting (unfortunately not in real life) with Grant to "Way Back Into Love," making flashy "pop" hand movements to "Pop! Goes My Heart" and trying to sing "Love Autopsy" (in all of its forty-second glory) with a straight face. While I can imagine what other drivers thought, the in-car performances went on without incident.
With the state of music today, I think some of the songs (especially "Way Back Into Love") could have a shot at being hit songs. However, since they are associated with the movie, many might not take them seriously. Music director Adam Schlesinger (of the band Fountains of Wayne best known for their hit "Stacy's Mom") has a hand in four of the soundtrack's 12 songs.
Choreographer Daniel Karaty does an excellent job making seemingly uncoordinated actors into believable dancers. Bennett's dance scenes seem appear to be straight out of a Shakira video. Grant's shimmying about (similar to his "Jump! (For My Love) inspired routine in 2003's "Love Actually") is over the top, but appears to be natural.
"Music and Lyrics" had me sitting in my seat not wanting the fun to end, waiting for the DVD to be released and wishing for a love like Alex and Sophie's. But I'm also a hopeless romantic.
"Music and Lyrics" is rated PG-13 for some sexual content-however it is relatively tame and is nothing that isn't shown during prime time television.