Music and Lyrics

You shouldn't expect too much from a romantic comedy, said Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune. All that's needed is a cute premise, a few easily remedied complications, and 'œa decent comeback or two' during the inevitable arguments. Having Hugh Grant doesn't hurt. In Music and Lyrics, Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a washed-up 1980s rock star who gets his chance for a comeback when the woman who waters his plants turns out to have a gift for songwriting. Writer-director Marc Lawrence's film is entirely formulaic, 'œbut here the formula satisfies.' Drew Barrymore makes an ideal comic foil for Grant, said Stephanie Zacharek in Salon.com. 'œA dippy cherub,' she's as comfortable with physical comedy as Grant is with self-deprecating bons mots. The song they supposedly write together is catchy (it was penned by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne). So, although this film 'œhas all the romantic comedy earmarks, it's also an interesting little study in the process of making something.' The two leads are remarkably convincing both as collaborators and as friends in need, said Chris Hewitt in the St. Paul, Minn., Pioneer Press. But they have zero sexual chemistry. It's fun to watch Grant and Barrymore clowning around. So 'œwhy did the movie have to make them suck face?'

Rating: PG-13

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