Music & Lyrics: Harmonious Good Fun
Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant Star in Marc Lawrence's Amusing Flick
Sep 9, 2008 Rashelle Predovnik
Written and directed by Marc Lawrence, this good humoured movie takes us on a light hearted journey into the world of a pop star ‘has been’, anxious for a comeback.
The Plot:
Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is happy to live in the past, basking in the memory of his former glory as a member of a popular boy band in the 80s. After the band split, a solitary copy of Fletcher’s unsuccessful solo album sits in the local record store for years as a symbol of his unrealised comeback dreams. Fletcher is happy to replay his past hits at small time gigs in amusement parks and various small town venues until he discovers he desperately needs to recharge his fading popularity and dwindling finances with a new hit.
His agent and friend Chris Riley (Brad Garrett) throws him a life line in the form of Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) a Shikira/Britney type performer who gives him the opportunity to tour with her, if he can impress her with the song she’s looking for. Fletcher is given a song title and three days.
Daring to Dream:
Enter Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), a bizarre and highly-strung girl who writes slogans for her sisters weight watchers company and, much to Fletcher’s delight, great lyrics. Since he only has three days to compose a hit, he is desperate enough to push aside his reservations about her sanity and employ her. Over the course of three caffeine fuelled, sleep deprived days Alex realises that he doesn’t want to be remembered for his past success and now, with Sophie’s help, allows himself to dream about a new and creative future. Sophie, who has self confidence issues begins to believe that she really might have a talent for writing after all. They form a united, albeit unlikely team, as they struggle against all odds.
Great Performances:
Grant adds his usual charm and gives a polished performance as the sweet and likeable Alex while Barrymore manages to create an endearing, if somewhat odd, character in Sophie. Often stealing the show in her role as Sophie’s overweight sister Rhonda, Kristen Johnston has a huge personality and a natural talent for comedy. Haley Bennett is perfectly cast as Cora the young, sexy singing star and while the script isn’t exceptional this comedy does manages to milk a lot of its humour from its characters.
Although this romantic comedy follows a predictable story line it still manage to be amusing. Simply there to entertain, if you are looking for a silly, funny, ‘feel good’ movie and you love the 80s, then this is your film!
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