3.5 Stars
I'm a sucker for films that supposedly expose the internal workings of the entertainment industry. Despite the fact that almost none of them ever do very well, Hollywood keeps cranking them out--probably because a writing teacher once advised the screenwriter to "write what you know." In any case, Marc Lawrence (Life with Mikey, Two Weeks Notice, Miss Congeniality) has written a lovely little romantic comedy for Hugh and Drew (Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore) that casts them as a pair of writers: he does the music, she does the lyrics. It violates an ironclad rule of romantic comedies. Not the cute meet; of course they meet cute. Not the breakup; of course the breakup. But it is the rare romantic comedy that dares put a kiss--and even sex--about halfway into the film. "Where can they go from here?" you ask. To a completely expectable and yet still satisfying Hollywood ending. All this, and only 96 minutes, close enough to the golden mean (90 minutes) that, minus credits, the film may be perfect. Stay for the credits; there's some funny stuff in the background. Two other brief notes; it is nice to see Kristen "Third Rock from the Sun" Johnston working again--although I am a sucker for tall women, she's also a good comedic actress. And this bit of trivia: Barrymore wears a Brandeis sweatshirt during one longish scene. Perhaps her character ran into my daughter there, or Lisa Simpson's imaginary friend Rachel Cohen.
Neal Vitale rated it slightly higher:
4 stars out of 5
Writer/director Marc Lawrence (Miss Congeniality, Two Weeks Notice) has produced a charming and delightful romantic comedy. It is spot-on send-up of both current and 80s-era pop music, enlivened by excellent performances by Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Grant returns to his Four Weddings And A Funeral comic form, all sad eyes and wry wit; Barrymore is wonderfully appealing without lapsing into ditziness. Highly recommended.
--Neal Vitale