Music and Lyrics

Essentially, this film portrays the cringe-worthy anguish that emanates from pop-music-writer's block, an anguish that appears idiotically far-fetched as the lyrical tripe (and its exhausting "process") is revealed. Don't get excited; this is nothing more than the easy, rom-com fare you're used to, served a bit staler than usual due to the fact that Hugh Grant repeats his trademarked stammering irritant of a character yet again. There are a handful of other elements that exasperate the viewer through the entirety of Music & Lyrics, such as Drew Barrymore's overplayed (and perhaps trademarked) clumsiness, the lack of irony in Grant's pop culture has-been guise, and the shameless similarities (have they run out of characters as well as plots?) to The Wedding Singer (one of the only notable differences is that Barrymore now sports a brunette 'do). A laugh-track might have been a wise investment for this production as the punchlines are contrived and awkwardly timed. The film's only saving grace, if you can bring yourself to ascribe something so weighty to this glorified sitcom, is its exaggerated satire of grotesque celebrity worship and superstars' penchants for blindly adopting trendy religions. If you're still in the mood for a sugary rom-com, I'd suggest renting The Wedding Singer - it's cheaper and not as painful to sit through. [Ilani Blanke]