Music and Lyrics (2007)

Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

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 i love the chemistry between us, and I was stride by their love story,now that they were not so young and suffered a lot,but they still stayed true,I am really attached to Drew that kind of girl,which is very loyal and personate

Music and Lyrics (2007): Dir: Marc Lawrence / Cast: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Haley Bennett, Kristen Johnston, Campbell Scott: Endearing romantic comedy about collaboration. Hugh Grant plays a washed up 1980's pop musician who is given opportunity to write a song for new pop sensation Cora but must rely on the woman who waters his plants since his lyrics skills are weak. Although formula in structure director Marc Lawrence makes hilarious jabs at the 1980's pop scene. This is a vast improvement over his previous film Two Weeks Notice, which also starred Grant but here he is backed with 80's satire elements that work much better. Grant plays off weakness and desire with perfect comic pitch. In the film's opening he is shown in full 80's drag before his plummet from success. Drew Barrymore is superb writing lyrics yet haunted by a past relationship. It is obvious that they will romantically unite but what works is his talent verses her ability to write lyrics. Supporting players are unfortunately flat although Haley Bennett as Cora is fetching. Cora is obviously a reference to Britney Spears and selling sexuality and Bennett spares no punches. Campbell Scott plays Barrymore's ex-boyfriend professor whom she encounters by chance but Grant ends up in a scuffle with in her defence. Retrospect pop culture and the innocence spawn from what has come to pass. Score: 8 ½ / 10

Director/writer Marc Lawrence is kind of a rom-com hack. And that's basically what we have here. The story is weak, but it's the two stars that make this shine.Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a has-been singer songwriter. He's living off his former fame, but that's drying up. So he's forced to ghost write for pop princess Cora Corman. Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) is the substitute plant waterer. (really?? that's a job?) She ends up being his lyricist.It's all very silly and manufactured. But the storyline does allow a few jabs at popular music. Grant and Barrymore are super cute and amiable together. They are amazing rom-com material. Their chemistry is off the charts. They both have great comic timing. They make this premise work.

I really enjoyed this film. The writer clearly understands what its like to be a musician and the people who scored the 80s music did a great job of getting the sound just right. The casting was spot on and both Grant and Barrymore were the right people for the characters. I was also impressed by how Haley Bennett managed to switch from a hyper-sexualized character to one that is almost a-sexual and unreadable. I imagine that's also partly the result of the director's efforts on this film. If there's anything I know well, it's the 80s. It's never easy to get the feel of a past decade's music and style quite right. However, this film manages to nail it right on the head. Watching the behind the scenes material on the DVD, I can see that they referenced the right material in order to get the look and feel correct. Going overboard worked in their favour, since the New Wave era was pretty extreme -- to say the least. Finally, I have to say that I found myself laughing my head off. This really is a funny movie. Worth seeing, even if you're not really into romantic comedies.