Synopsis

Alex Fletcher is a washed-up eighties pop star who's been reduced to working the nostalgia circuit at county fairs and amusement parks. The charismatic and talented musician gets a chance at a comeback when reigning diva Cora Corman invites him to write and record a duet with her, but there's a problem, Alex hasn't written a song in years, he's never written lyrics, and he has to come up with a hit in a matter of days. Enter Sophie Fisher, Alex's beguilingly quirky, replacement plant lady, whose flair for words strikes a chord with the struggling songwriter. On the rebound from a bad relationship, Sophie is reluctant to collaborate with anyone, especially commitment-phobe Alex. As their chemistry heats up at the piano and under it, Alex and Sophie will have to face their fears, and the music, if they want to find the love and success they both deserve. But first they must write that song.

What The Critics Say

"The movie is an unusually witty and intelligent romantic comedy and Hollywood's best Valentine's Day gift in years." William Arnold SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "Comedy that is actually funny plus romance that is actually sweet equals a sunny little valentine.." Nell Minow MOVIE MOM AT YAHOO! MOVIES "..Grant and Barrymore are great together, and the movie has both zing and song." Stephen Hunter WASHINGTON POST "Undeniably breezy thanks to a quality star pairing." Peter Canavese OUTNOW "Most of the musical numbers, including the central song, are unexpectedly catchy and believable. Thanks for that goes to songwriter Adam Schlesinger of the band Fountains of Wayne." Liam Lacey GLOBE AND MAIL

"Make sure you stick around for the closing credits, where the story continues... At that point you'll likely be having such a good time you won't want to leave." Daniel M Kimmel WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE "Music and Lyrics will make you want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony." Bill Muller ARIZONA REPUBLIC "Light, sweet and agreeably confident." Michael Phillips CHICAGO TRIBUNE "An indubitably delightful date movie." Susan Granger SUSANGRANGER.COM "There's always been a certain irony in Hugh Grant's name, for he's as close as this generation has to a Cary Grant." Jack Garner ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE "A lively, funny paean to pop culture, a romantic comedy in which the romance takes a back seat to the film's sneaky insights into the timeless appeal of popular music." Eugene Novikov FILM BLATHER

The Inside Story "Music and Lyrics" opened a doorway, writer and director Marc Lawrence says was a way to explore a world he's always been interested in; the world of writing music. "Even though I’ve been in a band, I’m a really bad musician," he laments, "but I've always been fascinated by songwriting. I liked the idea of doing a film about a writer, but if I were to write about a screenwriter, it would get too close to my own personal agony. So this was a way to write about the creative process, which I'm very familiar with, and also to write about my other great love: music." So where did the idea for the films unlikely 'creative' writing team of Alex Fletcher and Sophie Fisher come from. Researching legendary duos like the Gershwins and Elton John and Bernie Taupin, evidently. "I read a lot of books and watched a lot of documentaries," he says. "In many of the more famous teams, one person writes lyrics and the other writes music. I knew the conflict of a team, where each person had a specific role in a creative process that is ultimately collaborative, could yield some good comedy." "Music and Lyrics" creative team stars Hugh Grant as former eighties pop idol Alex Fletcher and Drew Barrymore as Sophie Fisher, who tends plants in Fletcher's apartment. When it came to casting an actor for the role of Fletcher, Lawrence only had one person in mind. An actor whose talent he greatly respects, Hugh Grant. "He’s the best comedic actor I can think of," Lawrence notes. "He’s great with a lot of words, and I write way too many words in my scripts. Thankfully, Hugh doesn’t object. Also, he could play both the rock star side of this part and the guy who’s very verbal, articulate and intelligent." Hugh was taken by his latest script. "I read a lot of romantic comedies and there are very few that make me laugh out loud on the page. This one did. I think Marc Lawrence is truly funny as a writer, though I have never liked him as a man," Hugh says tongue in cheek." To play Sophie, Lawrence approached the mutlitalented Barrymore. "Drew was the person I most wanted to send the script to. She's spontaneous and really, really funny," states Lawrence. "And she also has vulnerability as an actress. There’s nothing she can’t do. When Drew smiles she takes the whole theater with her. There’s no amount of teaching or coaching or pleading that can achieve that effect." Barrymore says there were a number of reasons she was drawn to the project. "There’s a style to this movie that's refreshing. I think Marc’s writing is of another era; his style of banter reminds me of comedies from the forties and fifties where the man and woman really inspire each other and rally. It’s like watching a tennis match," she says. Another drawcard was the diversity of the characters Lawrence created. "There’s something about them that's true to people in real life," she notes. "Marc's characters are very balanced and very specific with lots of idiosyncrasies. Sophie and Alex both have very different ways of dealing with life." One aspect that stands out in "Music and Lyrics" is the onscreen chemistry between Hugh and Barrymore. Lawrence puts that down to their the two stars, very different lifestyles. "They're very, very different people," he offered. "If you go to their trailers, for example, it would be clear. Hugh's trailer is very neat; it's incredibly clean. And Drew's trailer is usually packed with 30 or 40 people, with clothes all over and dogs lying around. But they really enjoyed those differences and I found that it worked for their chemistry in the film because there’s an odd couple aspect to it that is romantic, sexy and fun." While it may have been their first time working together, both stars are full of admiration for each others work. "Hugh is a tremendous comedian and he’s incredibly charming," says Barrymore. "His acting has an old-fashioned, beautiful quality." "Drew brings a charm to any role. She’s so clever and, apart from being a brilliant actress, she’s also a very good bloke. She has a calming effect on set," notes Grant. "Plus she makes her leading men look good, which is another reason I was so keen to work with her." And Lawrences assessment? He summed it by stating "I think we’ve got a really terrific pairing in Hugh and Drew." I think cinemagoers will agree with you Marc. Newcomer Haley Bennett plays young singing sensation Cora Corman, the catalyst for creating the onscreen team of Fletcher and Fisher. "We auditioned a lot of girls on both coasts for this role. We had a very specific idea of what we were looking for. Haley looked perfect and she could really sing, which was essential for the part," Lawrence emphisised. "She also got the comedy slant on Cora, which is a little out there and slightly spacey but also sweet." Bennett says she was estatic when she got the role. "I moved to California to be an actress and a singer and this part let me do both at the same time," Bennett notes enthusiasticly. "Cora's very spiritual but also very sensual. She’s also a little insane; she does outrageous things. I did model her after some big pop stars, but she also has an original side. I love that she really cares about her music and its message; even if she is a little over the top about it." Bennet also admitted that observing the films two stars working together provided a valuable lesson in acting. "They're both so natural and relaxed and I was so nervous," she admits. "They taught me that you have to be confident and feel comfortable when you are acting, because that's what people will see." Playing Fletcher's manager Chris Riley, is three time EMMY Award winner Brad Garrett. Having Garrett in the cast provided another thrill for Lawrence. "Brad was really open to stuff that I threw in at the last minute. I really appreciated that. He was a great addition to the film." How does the star of TV'S "Everybody Loves Raymond" see his character. "Chris has been Alex’s manager for years. They were together during the height of his fame, when girls were throwing their panties at Alex on stage, and he also hung in there for the leaner times. I guess the only difference is that the panties have gotten less skimpy as the fans got older. He doesn’t see many bikinis anymore. Either way, they’re both trying to jumpstart Alex’s career," he says. Another familiar face from a hit TV show is that of actress Kristen Johnston who plays the owner of weight loss business, "Weight-Not", and Sophie's sister, Rhonda. "My character was obsessed with Alex in high school. She had his Tiger Beat pictures everywhere," says Johnston. "So when Sophie comes to her and reveals that she's working with him, Rhonda freaks out and forces Sophie to drag her wherever Alex is. When Rhonda first sees Alex at the high school reunion concert he's playing, the memory of this great crush she had on him overtakes her. She bum rushes the stage and kind of terrifies Alex. She regresses to a really immature high school fan, which was tons of fun to play." But what about the obvious physical differences between herself and Barrymore? "It's kind of hard to imagine us as sisters physically because she comes up to my waist. But the relationship worked because the characters have a really strong sisterly bond. Rhonda is protective of Sophie and they share a sense of humor. We had a blast," declares the actress. "I went into every scene with the objective of making Drew crack up." Barrymore says it worked. "Kristen was always throwing something new into the scene I pretty much ruined her takes because I’d burst out laughing during them," she recalls. Lawrence describes Johnston as "a force of nature. You can’t teach anyone those kinds of comedy instincts." Skills the actress abley showcased in the TV comedy series "3rd Rock from the Sun" from which she garnered two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Sophies ex-boyfriend Sloan Cates, a contemptible literature professor is played by New York Film Critics Best New Director Award winner for the 1996 film "Big Night", Campbell Scott. "Sloan is a real jerk," notes Scott, who qualifies taht by adding, "but a charming one. Both my character and Hugh Grant’s character are writers, not exactly prize fighters, but we get into a physical scuffle when I insult Sophie. The fight is pretty hilarious, and it’s over just as fast as it started. Later Hugh’s character laments that he got beat up by a National Book Award winner. I guess he didn’t realize my character was a martial artist, too." And in case you're thinking "poor old Hugh", forget it. He's a lover, not a fighter. And here's a juicey piece of trivia. Before "Music and Lyrics" Hugh coudn't sing, nor could he play the piano. Michael Rafter, voice and piano coach for the film says Hugh became so confident he performed "the entire song 'Don’t Write Me Off' on stage in front of thousands of extras in the film. The Verdict "How can you fault Hugh Grant? Put simply, you can't. Over the years he has made this style of role his own. He alone has the looks and the manner to pull it off. He knows it works. Producers know it works. More importantly, the boxoffice knows it works. It works even better when you team him up with someone we all love and enjoy watching at work. In this case it's that cute and charming, slightly dizzy broad we all loved in "50 First Dates", Drew Barrymore. There is an added bonus for every cinemagoer who take in "Music and Lyrics", not only is the film good schmaltzy fun, but we get to hear Hugh singing. True! Co-starring with Hugh and Drew are former TV stars Brad Garrett ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Kristen Johnston ("Third Rock From The Sun"). How entertaining is "Music and Lyrics" you ask? Good enough to miss one of mum's roast lamb dinners, I'd say. And yes, there is a lesson in that. Damn good fun and certainly worth taking in. 3 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "MUSIC AND LYRICS" stars .......
Golden Globe & BAFTA winner Hugh Grant ["Notting Hill", "About a Boy", "Two Weeks Notice", "Love Actually" and "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason"]; Drew Barrymore ["Riding in Cars with Boys", "Charlie's Angels I & II", "Fifty First Dates" and "The Perfect Catch"]; Daniel Stewart Sherman ["The Accident", "Ordinary Sinner", "Brother to Brother" and "I Think I Love My Wife"]; Kristen Johnston ["Backfire!", "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me", "Strangers with Candy" and TV'S "Third Rock From The Sun"]; Haley Bennett ["Music and Lyrics"]; Zak Orth ["Spanking The Monkey", "Romeo + Juliet", "Snow Falling on Cedars", "Melinda and Melinda" and "Prime"] and Brad Garrett ["Finding Nemo", "Garfield", "The Pacifier", "Night at the Museum" and TV'S "Everybody Loves Raymond"] as Alex Fletcher's manager.
"MUSIC AND LYRICS" was .......
directed by Marc Lawrence ["Two Weeks Notice"]; screenplay by Marc Lawrence ["The Out-of-Towners", "Miss Congeniality", "Two Weeks Notice" and "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous"]; cinematography by Xavier Pérez Grobet ["Before Night Falls", "The Woodsman", "Monster House" and "Nacho Libre"]; original music by Adam Schlesinger ["That Thing You Do!", "Because of Winn-Dixie", "The Perfect Catch" and "Just Friends"]; edited by Susan E Morse ["Manhattan", "Arthur", "Mighty Aphrodite" and "Two Weeks Notice"]; production design by Jane Musky ["When Harry Met Sally", "Finding Forrester", "Maid in Manhattan", "Mona Lisa Smile", "Hitch" and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend"]; and costume design by Susan Lyall ["Little Man Tate", "She's the One", "State and Main", "The Mothman Prophecies" and "Flightplan"]. Run Time 100 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Roadshow Films - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2007 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved