Laurie’s Reel Thing Chick Flick Review: "Music and Lyrics"
The ads are pushing “Music and Lyrics” in a major way as “the perfect date movie.” But as my own permanent in-house date is allergic to all things Hugh Grant, I graciously gave him an excused absence and went to see it instead with Lauren, one of my most trusted chick flick chums.
My hubby’s opinion not withstanding, you really have got to hand it to Hugh. He might just be the poster boy for image rehabilitation. I mean, wasn’t he involved in some unsavory scene a while back with a “date”-for-hire while he was supposedly hot-and-heavy with model Elizabeth Hurley? I mean, it wouldn’t (and didn’t) stop me from going to see him on the big screen; I’m just curious if I’m the only one who a) remembered and b) is still surprised he’d cheat on someone as gorgeous as Hurley – and pay for the privilege.
Anyhoo, the movie. As you might have guessed, “Casablanca” it is not. What it is: a pleasant little bubble gummy update to the whole “meet cute” genre of romantic relationship movies. Grant and Drew Barrymore (loved her in “Riding with Boys”) hook up after her ditzy-but-adorable character comes round to water his plants. He convinces her to help him with the lyrics of a song he’s writing for a Britney-like pop princess, and voila! The duet makes beautiful (or in this case, commercially successful) music together.
It’s fun. There are some laughs. And the flashback music videos of Grant as a pop icon are a scream. But please, spare your significant-other-of-the-male-persuasion and borrow a ‘tween or two instead. They’ll be the perfect cover should you bump into any of your more highbrow-minded movie-going pals at the multi-plex.
Comments
It may be "bubble gummy" but it still made me cry. Then again I cry during Mastercard commercials!
Saw it with my almost 11-year old daughter and we both thought it was cute, though she couldn't fully appreciate the whole 80's pop thing. Gave Dad the option and afterwards were SO relieved he said no.
Haven't seen it yet cuz it only qualifies as a dvd rental in my mind. I have my standards, you know!!
