Music and Lyrics

Music and Lyrics
February 14, 2007
Castle Rock etc.
Comedy, Romance, Musical
DVD
B-

Writer-director Marc Lawrence did Two Weeks Notice and there are some obvious similarities, most particularly the coasting on Hugh Grant's chemistry with his leading lady, in this case the equally rom-com-prone Drew Barrymore.  Also, the film is set in New York and there's a sounding-board sibling, this time an older sister for Drew's character Sophie.  As such, the movie also has parallels with Going the Distance, although that movie would turn rom-com tropes inside out.  This one is more standard, but amiable enough to make me wish it were better.  The best aspect is undoubtedly Grant's character's former stardom in an '80s pop band called Pop!  (With the exclamation point, à la Wham!)  A perfect parody video opens the movie and nothing after that can live up to it.  My advice: put your expectations low and just enjoy this movie for what it is. 

Stephen Detherage was a News Intern in Groundhog Day and is Al the Concert Shirt Vendor here.   Carlos Velazquez was a Musician in School of Rock but is a waiter here, while Kathleen McNenny was Freddy's Mother there and is Gloria here.  Charlotte Maier had played Hugh Grant's ex-wife Helen Wade in Two WN and plays Barbara here, while Adam Grupper was her lawyer before and is Gary here, and Jason Antoon was Norman there and has a more memorable role here as angsty songwriter Greg Antonsky.

Thelma O'Leary plays a Concert Attendee here and would soon be a Park Attendee in Enchanted, while Robert Sciglimpaglia is a Class of 1987 Alumnus here and would play a Ball Room Guest there.  Mark A. Keeton is Sloan's Dinner Companion here and would be Denim Suit Guy in Baby Mama.  Zack Orth was Mike in In & Out and J.J. in Wet Hot American Summer, and is David Newbert (TV Executive #1) here.  (He would also go on to be a Waiter in They Came Together.)

Two Weeks Notice

Two Weeks Notice
December 20, 2002
Warner Bros.
Comedy, Romance
VHS
B-

Marc Lawrence, who co-wrote Sandra Bullock's Miss Congeniality and would go on to Hugh Grant's Music and Lyrics, wrote and directed this formulaic but mostly satisfying rom-com that pairs Bullock and Grant.  They play respectively, a driven left-wing lawyer and a lazy but intelligent rich man.  Their chemistry fuels the movie, both of them playing off of their established personas, but putting little twists on the lines.  There is an extra layer of political subtext to the movie in that his character is named George Wade, and the W figures prominently.  But not much is done with this.  It's just sort of there.  And, yes, there should be an apostrophe after the S in "Weeks."  I think this is symbolic of how the movie feels thrown together but nonetheless works, most of the time.

Heather Burns has a much smaller role here than she did as Cheryl Frasier in Miss Congeniality, but she's again sweet and funny as Bullock's best friend, here named Meryl Brooks.  Jeannette Gould was an Audience Member in In & Out and is a Senior Center Woman here, while Adam LeFevre was a Bachelor Party Guest there and is the RV Man here.  And John Cunningham, who was great as the "Be a Man" Tape Instructor, plays a Justice of the Peace here.  George Gearhart King III was a School Child in Object of My Affection, and his appearance here as RV Son is his only other credit.  Iraida Polanco, who was Carmelita there, is Rosario there.

Steven Weisz, who's a Charity Ball Attendee, would be a Stunned Pedestrian in Enchanted.  Adam Grupper, who's the Lawyer for Wade's ex-wife, would in Gary in Music and Lyrics, while Charlotte Maier, who's Helen Wade here, would be Barbara there.

Miss Congeniality

Miss Congeniality
December 22, 2000
Castle Rock etc.
Comedy, Action
VHS
B-

I don't enjoy this movie as much as I did at the time, but it remains entertaining, due mostly to the title character, AKA Gracie Hart, as played by 36-year-old Sandra Bullock.  It is very much a product of its time, from the clumsy coming out of a character on live TV, to Gracie's makeover and subsequent winning over of her cute but unkind boss (Benjamin Bratt).  I'm not using the "romance" tag though because their relationship is almost an afterthought compared to her father-daughter-like bonding with her stylist, Michael Caine as Victor Melling, and all the female bonding with sloppy, butch (but soft-hearted) Gracie and the other beauty contestants.  William Shatner and Candice Bergen have some nice moments as pageant veterans who are being forced into retirement.  But mostly this is Bullock's show, whether she's dressed for playing musical glasses or dressed figuratively and literally to kill.  I have seen the sequel (which drops the Bratt character) and found it pretty good, but I probably won't buy it.

Steve Monroe, who plays Frank Tobin, was one of the sons in the father-son therapy group in Austin Powers.  Heather Burns, who's sweet and funny as Cheryl (Miss Rhode Island), would also be in Bullock's Two Weeks Notice, which would be not only written but directed by one of the co-writers here, Marc Lawrence.  (Not to be confused with the older actor who played a villain in Goin' Coconuts, Foul Play, and Super Fuzz.)