Review: Music & Lyrics

I caught this romantic comedy this past weekend, and it was a delightfully silly way to spend two hours. The story: Hugh Grant was an 80s pop star (think Wham) - after a few hits, his group split and he fell idle. However, when the 80s nostalgia hit, he found a second career playing at Knotts Berry Farm and other amusement parks. Now, a teen queen singer (think Britney or Shakira) wants him to write a new song for her - and wants him to do a duet. While capable of producing the music, Alex isn't a lyricist. Enter his plant lady - Drew Barrymore. The collaborate on a song, and of course, romantic complications ensue.

Haley Bennett does a spot-on impersonation of the current wave of ingenue singers. And I was impressed that Hugh Grant did his own vocals, rather credibly, I might add. The story is lightweight, they live in a New York that doesn't exist, and of course it ends happily. But there are flashes of hilarity - check out Grant's video for Pop! Goes My Heart It's a perfect send-up! (The "pop-up" version they play at the closing credits is even better - full of the type of banal facts that VH1 show always used).

Hugh Grant should only play this type of romantic, crinkly-eyed cad. He's perfected it - Bridget Jones, About a Boy and this. I'm not sure if Drew Barrymore has quite earned the right to take over Meg Ryan's title as Romantic Comedy Queen, but she's getting there.

A sweet, light romantic comedy.