Le come back

I was pleased when I finished this movie... normally by the end of most romantic movies my legs ache from non-use and I have just enjoyed a nice little nap.

I found Music and Lyrics to be charming and clever.... Hugh Grant gives a great crisp delivery on his very witty lines... good interaction between he and Barrymore, some well-timed jokes and a heartfelt ending make this a nice date movie that did not follow the norm in it's character.

Here is where a few things were different

1. The main male character was a not a womanizer charmed out of that life 2. The two characters had no secret shame to be revealed halfway through the movie 3. He did not cheat on her... then they got together in the end

He just did... as Sophie Fisher's sister in the movie, says "Something Extraordinary" to win her love.

See it.. you will smile!

There are already 222 reviews of this movie, so the chances of anyone ever reading this are slim. However, I'm a sucker for a longshot. (so if you read this review, please give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down...I'm curious to know if anyone will ever read this, buried under more than 200 other reviews)

When a friend suggested we rent this movie, my initial reaction was, "NO!! It's a chick flick. And besides, it's got Hugh Grant in it. Those are two really big strikes against it." However, and remember my fondness for longshots, the movie also casts Drew Barrymore in the other lead role. I couldn't resist.

To my complete surprise, both actors were excellent, and Hugh Grant doesn't have a bad singing voice. To be honest, if he and Drew Barrymore wanted to record an album of pop songs, I think it could do quite well. Her strength is that she is perky and funny, and that compensates for lack of trained vocal talent. Sometimes you DON'T want to hear Barbra Streisand.

Here's the quickie plot summary: Hugh Grant was in a popular band of the 1980s, and now he's reduced to playing for embarrassing venues like shopping malls, amusement parks, and High School reunions. When a Britney Spears-type singer wants him to write her new single, his life changes completely, but only due to Drew Barrymore's help.

I now judge movies in part by how my European friends would react to them. I have to admit that some American movies are a little corny, but this movie passed the test with flying colors. A friend from Slovakia not only loved the movie, he insisted on watching the trailers and special scenes.... twice! It was a welcome relief to actually be proud of a Hollywood movie.

I now have new-found respect for Hugh Grant, and my admiration for Drew Barrymore is higher than ever. She sure has a lot of talent for playing someone with pluck and a little bit of endearing wackiness.

This is a nice rom com as lighthearted as mesmerizing. First, we feel an alchemy between the two main protagonists, Alex Fletcher and Sophie Fisher, even if these two people seem diametrically opposed, at first glance. This is not a love at first sight, but we see them taming to each other, as the fox and the little prince written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943. Then, I like this constant self-mockery about the cheesy band called Pop, the introduction and last scenes, and the manifold hilarious references of the Battle of the 80's Has-Beens. Finally, the dialogues are excellent with a permanent British humour. Oops... I've almost forgotten: the cast is globally excellent, especially Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.

It seems odd for me to give such a high rating for romantic comedy as I always find them frothy and lightweight. Yet I found this wonderfully pleasurable. Hugh grant may have been in his usual role of self depreciating charming English Gent who is living on his past pop star glory but the dialogue and one liners gave his role substance. He more than gave justice to them by his superb timing. Drew Barrimore also fell into the part as a woman who comes to feed the plants and ends up feeding ideas to him for a song in which he cant complete. The acting was spot on, the one liners witty but I think it was the music added joy to the film. As he said in the film don't quote me on this but something like " there is nothing like a good song for lifting your spirits in a second." I left this film feeling happy not only for the characters but in myself.!

I must warn you -- Being a guy, I had pretty low expectations to begin with. However, there were a couple of things I enjoyed:

1) The movie was funny.

-- Hugh Grant's one-sentence witty remarks came out natural and funny.

-- Their ability to poke fun of two distinct musical decades could be better, but still turned out pretty funny.

2) The plot was novel (at least to me).

-- "Meshing" the two music periods (the 80's and today) in the same movie provided a good way to contrast the two styles.

-- Since I'm not so familiar with the music industry, I enjoyed the "behind the scenes" with the trial and error of coming up with lyrics (at least in the way the movie portrays it.)

Other than that, it was the typical "chic-flick." Guy has problem with girl, he says some bad things, stir up some emotional scene and the usual -- will they get back together?

Other than that, if you're just looking for a good laugh, I'd give it a go!