2008 Woodie Awards
Music and Lyrics hits box office in melodic flow
By: Kayla Bryant
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Entertainment & Features
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Editor in Chief
Although the previews flaunting Hugh Grant in untainted 80's attire and a Flock of Seagulls haircut were humorous, I was almost weary of the Music and Lyrics plot, afraid it would be nothing more than a watered down version of Notting Hill. However, I was pleasantly surprised.
Alex Fletcher (Grant, Two Weeks Notice) is a washed-up 80's has-been, struggling to make a comeback by writing a hit song for pop sensation Cora Corman (Haley Bennett). Only he hasn't been able to write anything worth the pen ink used in over 15 years. With help coming from the surprising source of his stand-in plant lady, Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore, Fever Pitch), Fletcher is able to complete a song that he hopes will live up to the pseudo-spiritual Corman and usher him back into fame.
Barrymore and Grant have a natural chemistry in Music, which is only accentuated by supporting actors Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Fletcher's agent and Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock From the Sun) as Fisher's older sister.
Although the story line holds the same corny ingredients of all romantic comedies (unlikely man and woman are thrown together by some twist of faith, they fall in love, some conflict befalls the couple, music plays in the background as shots of each individual goes sadly throughout life and then couple realizes need for each other and reunites), Music and Lyrics is refreshing and quirky.
Marc Lawerence wrote and directed Music and Lyrics and is no stranger to the romantic comedy as he has written and/or directed Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Two Weeks Notice, The Out-of-Towners and Forces of Nature. Lawerence does an amazing job in his positioning of Grant and Barrymore's characters, both physically and emotionally.
The Valentine's Day theatrical release of the film did add to its romantic corniness, but that was the market and target audience the producers were shooting for- the guilty-pleasure, can't-help-but-love-it, romantic-comedy watchers. And what can I say? They got it just right.
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