Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant in "Music and Lyrics"
courtesy of Warner Home Entertainment
"Hugh's A Hoot But Drew's A Drag"

"Music and Lyrics" is out on DVD and many of you will be drawn to it because it stars Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. But don't let those two names overly impress you. Both of them have been better in other movies. Still you might find "Music and Lyrics" to be a sweet little film that has some good comedic moments thanks to Grant and a listenable soundtrack thanks to the song techniques of the eighties. With a more compatible leading lady the movie could have been much, much more fun.

Grant plays Alex Fletcher, one half of "Pop," a popular vocal group of the eighties. "Pop" popped when the other member decided he wanted to try it as a solo. Fletcher has struggled for years to pay the bills by doing songs from his old act. Now he has a chance to sing a song with new rock sensation Cora Corman (Hayley Bennett) She likes the sound of "Pop" and wants Fletcher to write a song for her new album. If it meets her taste she will perform it with him on her concert tour.

Fletcher's problem is he writes music not lyrics. He thinks his problem is solved when a girl who shows up to water his plants mutters some lyrics under her breath while he is playing his tune. The girl, who is named Sophie Fisher (Barrymore), does not want to be a lyricist. Luckily for Alex, Sophie's sister (Kristen Johnston) is a huge "Pop" fan. She browbeats Sophie into agreeing to give lyric writing a try.

The movie is totally about the relationship between Alex and Sophie and that is the problem. They just don't click. There are no sparks, and no passion. It is not clear what is missing exactly, but believe me it is missing. Drew Barrymore has charm to spare but in this movie she is just blah and that makes the DVD blah.

Another movie full of big names that is out on DVD this week is "Breaking and Entering." This movie stars Jude Law, Juliette Binoche and Robin Wright Penn. It is also directed by Anthony Minghella who is the director of such Hollywood hits as "The English Patient," "Cold Mountain" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Each of those movies had a measure of success. "Breaking and Entering" did not and that is because the film itself borders on banality. If "Breaking and Entering" is a story about thievery, there is nothing in the movie worth stealing.

In the film Will Francis (Law) is an architect. He lives with Liv (Penn) and her daughter Bea (Poppy Rogers). Although they are not married, Will treats Bea as his daughter. She is a child with problems bordering on autism.

One night Will's company is robbed. He and his partner Sandy (Martin Freeman) are stumped as to who could have committed the crime. The robbers came in through a glass pane in the roof. The audience is shown that the thief is Miro (Rafi Gavron), a young man from Sarajevo who came to London with his mother Amira (Binoche).

Will stakes out his company and soon he spies Miro scaling the building. He gives chase and eventually tracks him to his home. He doesn't confront him but later goes back and hires his mother to do some sewing for him. He seems to have some sort of plan in mind but it is never made clear.

What does happen is Will falls for Amira and begins a relationship with her. Amira is unaware of Will and her son's involvement. She just thinks he is a nice Londoner who has come to care for her. Will meanwhile is conflicted by his feelings for Amira and his feelings for Liv.

The movie eventually reaches a resolution of sorts but it is neither satisfactory nor unsatisfactory. The characters in this movie are so bland that working up any feelings for them is impossible, and the storyline is just lukewarm adultery. So much for Minghella's storytelling ability.

Another DVD out this week is "Catch and Release." This movie stars the always charming Jennifer Garner as a young woman whose fiancée' dies. She thought she really knew him but after his death she begins to learn things that are completely alien from who and what she thought he was. 

Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Smith, San Jaeger and Juliette Lewis co-star in this so so movie about love and lies. I wasn't that impressed with the story but I would watch Jennifer Garner in anything. 

Finally there is "Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut." This 1997 Johnny Depp film about an undercover FBI agent is still solidly dramatic. Al Pacino is also in the film along with Anne Heche and all three of the main actors are at their best. This is a chance to see Depp before he became a "movie star." In this film he is a working actor who is filled with talent.

The DVD has a Director's Commentary by Mike Newell as well as a featurette made just for the DVD titled "Donnie Brasco: Out of the Shadows." Both add to the enjoyment of the film.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!