Music and Lyrics follows the story of Alex Fletcher, a former 80's has-been, who, after living on past glories as one half of 80's boy band PoP! finally has the opportunity to make his long sought comeback when he is recruited to pen a song for pop music's 'next big thing'.
The Plot
Hugh Grant plays Alex Fletcher, an 80's pop has-been, who, since the split of his group PoP!, has been digging out a living playing small venues, events, theme parks and reunions, following the flop of his attempted solo-career and album.
He, and his manager Chris Riley (Brad Garrett) are desperate to make a comeback, and as fate would have it, they are given the opportunity. Cora Corman (Haley Bennett), tipped to be the next Britney Spears is a big fan of Fletcher, and she commissions Fletcher to write a new song for her, titled A Way Back Into Love.
Fletcher knows this is a huge opportunity, and, though accomplished at writing melodies and music, he can't write lyrics, so must work with a lyricist. After trying, but failing to get anywhere with the song, he stumbles upon the fact that the woman watering the plants in his apartment, Sophie Fisher, is actually a brilliant, budding lyricist. After much persuasion, Fisher eventually agrees to work with Fletcher as lyricist for the song A Way Back Into Love, and, whilst doing so, the pair fall in love with one another. They present the song to Cora, who loves it and tells them it is the song she has been dreaming about, and, at her next concert, she and Alex perform a duet of the song.
Cast Performances
Hugh Grant brings his usual, affable charm to the role, but minus the bumbling the so encapsulates the majority of his performances. He is effortlessly likeable as the suave but unfashionable Fletcher, and actually has a much better singing voice than one would imagine.
Drew Barrymore manages to create an endearing, and adorable, if a little strange, character in Sophie. A girl with many layers and a big heart, who is terrified of having to stand on her own two feet, but, through her relationship with Alex learns more about who she really is.
There are fine supporting turns from Brad Garrett, Haley Bennett, Campbell Scott and Kristen Johnston, which heighten the comedy value, as each member of the cast is well-versed in comedy. The script, whilst not brilliant is still good, and that, combined with the experience of the actors manages to muster enough laughs to sustain the viewer.
Overall Music and Lyrics is good, harmless, comedy fun, with the cast turning out laughs in abundence, and Lawrence's obvious love for music makes for a great soundtrack. The two leads carry the film well, and there is just enough in the script to sustain the viewers interest. What the film lacks in originality it makes up for in heart and enthusiasm, and the singing performances are just as fine as the acting. This is the type of film that is certainly harmless fun, don't expect layers, twists and lots of character development, instead, just enjoy a film that is simply there to entertain.
Matthew Biggin - Matthew Biggin is currentIy studying a freelance writing course with an organization known as The Writer's Bureau, whereby he completes a ...
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