Tight-y whities. Shaggy haircut. Shoulder pads. Electronica sound.
Yes, everything you loathe with the typical 80s music and fashion. That is the ‘overture’ of Music and Lyrics — the latest film of Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore out on cinema release. What is endearing, to me at least, however, is Grant’s hip rolling and shaking, which brings more tackiness into the pop act! Their group is reminiscent of Wham! in as far as looks, anyway.
It is a romcom, of course, with an unlikely pairing. It didn’t feel at all natural to see them together on screen. Maybe because Drew Barrymore still looks a lot like that little girl screaming in “E.T.” whilst Hugh Grant is fading and far from his boyish looks in “Four Weddings and A Funeral”. However, they have chemistry. And Hugh, of course, is hilarious… especially when he starts rolling and shaking his hips… eventhough it was not the first time that he had done that.
(Image taken from Rotten Tomatoes)
The story was not as deep as “When Harry Met Sally” but some of the lines did give some goosebumps.
“It forces all the blood to my heart.” (When asked why wear such tight pants.)
“The melody is like sex. But when you get to know the person, that’s the lyrics. It’s the story of who they are underneath.”
Oh… and both Barrymore and Grant sing in this film! At first I thought that they had casted someone for the singing voices but in the film credits, it did say that the songs were actually performed by them. Ok, Simon Cowell might not let them get through the next stage of X Factor or Americal Idol but it was good enough.
The girl they casted as Cora Corman (“She’s bigger than Britney and Christina!”) – Haley Bennett – worked and failed for me… depending whether the screenwriter(s) and casting director(s) are being sarcastic. If they were being sarcastic, then the ‘biggest music artist’ is effective as she was so trying hard and wannabe fantabulous and so wants to beat Shakira in the booty-shaking Olympics! If not, then I don’t get why she’s dull. To be honest, Hugh Grant does a far better job in shaking is tush than her.
(Image taken from Rotten Tomatoes)
The songs, ah, the songs. I’ve already mentioned that they are of the pop genre. Very catchy as even this morning, I was humming the melody of the cheesy pop tune from the opening in the shower! And after Googling “Way Back Into Love” – the song that Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) and Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) wrote together, here are the lyrics.
Way Back Into Love
I’ve been living with a shadow overhead
I’ve been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I’ve been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can’t seem to move on
I’ve been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I’ve been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind
All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh
I’ve been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I’ve been searching but I just don’t see the signs
I know that it’s out there
There’s got to be something for my soul somewhere
I’ve been looking for someone to shed some light
Not just somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I’m open to your suggestions
All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I’m hoping you’ll be there for me in the end
There are moments when I don’t know if it’s real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation
All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I’m hoping you’ll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I’ll be there for you in the end
Reasons why you should not watch this film or buy it on DVD: romcom, 80s pop, Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore
Reasons why you should watch this film and buy it on DVD: romcom, 80s pop, Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore
If you want light-hearted, no-brainer time off, then this one is definitely a reason to go to the cinema for. This very hopeless romantic guarantees that it won’t POP, your heart!
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