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Fifteen years after the runaway success (and subsequent breakup) of his band, Pop!, Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is living on his status as an ‘80s has-been, performing at amusement parks and class reunions. But just as the gigs are starting to disappear (Knott’s Berry Farm even cancels his annual show), Alex gets the opportunity of a lifetime: teen pop sensation Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) asks Alex to write her a new song. Cora says she’s a fan of his work—and she’d like to work with him. The only catch: she needs the song in a couple of days. She’s got a few other ‘80s has-beens working on the same project—and the one who can get her the best song before the end of the week wins the opportunity to appear on her tour and perform the song with her.
It’s been years since Alex wrote a song—even longer since he’s written a good song—but his agent, Chris (Brad Garrett) talks him into hiring a lyricist and giving it a try. Things don’t go very well with the lyricist they hire, though, and Alex decides to get rid of him and work with Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore)—the crazy girl who’s been showing up to water his plants—instead.
Sophie, however, has never written a song. She’s a blocked poet who works for her sister’s weight loss clinic. She’s not sure she can write a song at all—much less write a hit song in a couple of days—but once she agrees to try, things start to click between her and Alex.
As they say, some things just get better with age—like fine wines…cheese…certain ‘80s pop stars…and Drew Barrymore. Give her the right role—and the right cast—and there’s no stopping her. And in Music, Drew is adorable. She’s perfect for the role of Sophie. In fact, I can’t think of anyone better to play a character who’s neurotic and insecure and a little bit crazy (but still totally sweet). And she and Grant (who’s as cute and bumbling and self-deprecating as ever) work wonderfully together.
Music and Lyrics is pretty much everything you look for in a good chick flick. It’s funny, and it’s sweet, and it’s a little bit campy. It’s got two talented leads who play characters that you really want to end up together. And even though the story is predictable, it’s fun to watch. It’s totally engrossing and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. Not only that, but it’s even a chick flick that you can take your boyfriend/husband/guy friend to see without feeling guilty—because, while it may cause you to get a little choked up in the end, it’s not unbearably sappy (there’s also a hot young pop star, which is more than enough to keep him from complaining). So if you’re a fan of chick flicks (especially if you also happen to be a child of the ‘80s), Music and Lyrics is a must-see.
