Hugh Grant Is In Fine Form Once Again... "The Rewrite"

The Rewrite (2014)

Not Rated (PG-13)

Starring Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney,

Written and Directed by Marc Lawrence

The Story:

Keith Michaels (Grant) is a former Oscar winning writer who has had a few bombs since then, and now cannot find work. His agent gets him a gig teaching a screenwriting course back east. So he swallows his pride, heads back east and grudgingly begins his next career as a teacher.

Marc Lawrence and Hugh Grant have been great as a team since they teamed together in 2002 with Two Weeks Notice. Lightning struck again 5 years later when they worked on Music and Lyrics together and created another great romantic comedy.

Then the inevitable happened, the third time was not the charm, and Did You Hear About The Morgans tanked. I've seen that one, and it wasn't that bad.

Now, it wasn't nearly as good as the other two movies, but there were some witty moments in there, mostly on the charm and wit of Hugh Grant.

So, after nearly 6 years away from the big screen, the two re-team and tell a bit of a biographical tale that closely follows the lead of Music and Lyrics.

A formerly successful writer finds love when and where he least expects it.

This romantic comedy takes the slow build, but you know it's coming, and it's actually a refreshing and fun change of pace.

Hugh Grant returns in fine form, and he hasn't missed a beat over the decades and has grown perfectly into the role of the disenfranchised middle aged romantic lead.

It was also nice to see Tomei back in a comedic role for what seems like the first time in a long time.

Plus there is a nice comedic turn by Simmons that's pretty fun to watch.

Welcome back Marc Lawrence, and looking forward to the next project with Grant!

Final Grade: B

I Need A Little More Than "Two Weeks Notice"

Another romantic comedy?

Yep!

The Story:

George Wade (Hugh Grant) is an extremely wealthy businessman who is the face of the company, even though it's his brother that makes it work.  Wade encounters Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) an environmental lawyer who wants to make sure a community center is not demolished with Wade's new project.  She comes to work for him to help ensure her vision becomes reality, but slowly the job consumes her life as George becomes increasingly dependent on her. 

And then one day, it's time for Lucy to leave George's side...

It's fun watching some of my favorite films after some time has passed. 

Do they remain favorites, or are they best viewed with rose colored glasses?

In today's case, just about a decade has passed since I first watched it, and I think it's just as funny now as it was the first time I saw it.

Why?

For starters, let's take the director, Marc Lawrence.

He's only directed 3 feature films thus far in his career, and all have starred Hugh Grant.

This was their first collaboration, and it is a wonderful comic gem that perfectly balances the oil and water relationship of a romantic comedy with the will they or won't they tension because the two characters can't stand each...because ultimately they have fallen in love with one another.

Did I mention he also wrote the film?

I can see why Hugh Grant likes working with him, as he has probably all of the best lines in the film.

However it wasn't just his first time writing their co-star, Sandra Bullock.  Lawrence also penned the wonderfully pleasing Miss Congeniality, another family favorite in our house.

So not a bad first crack at the director's chair.

However, I found his follow-up with Grant, Music and Lyrics to be even better, and while their third vehicle, Have You Heard About the Morgans wasn't as good, it was still enjoyable enough to watch.

This would explain why his next venture is yet another Hugh Grant movie, and I'm indeed looking forward to it.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and I would say it gets watch on average once a year.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time...That I Own. # 24 ~ Music and Lyrics

Enter the Romantic Comedy.  Otherwise dubbed: "The Chick Flick".

I will make no bones about them:  I am a big fan of the genre.

Normally, these are the movies that my honey enjoys watching, and since I enjoy watching any movie with her, these get put on heavy rotation to make up for anything I normally get that explodes or splatters blood across the screen.

: )

Bonus points though:  When they are good, they can be really great movies that I have no problem watching over, and over (and over!) again.

Music and Lyrics falls into that category.

The story: 80s hitmaker Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) who was the maker of his band's melodies enjoys a carefree life living off residuals of their greatest hits.  Of course, he now plays fairs and reunions, so it's not quite the grand life he had dreamed of.  Then he receives an offer to write a song for the current reigning teen pop sensation, and he jumps a the chance... or more likely hops to the chance... his weakness?  He's not a very good lyricist.  If only he could collaborate with someone like back in the 80s.

Cue Sophie (Drew Barrymore) who comes in as a cleaning lady to tend to his apartment, and the two strike up a quick relationship because of her ease with words and their poetic arrangement.

Since I mentioned this is a Romantic Comedy, naturally, there will be a little bit of falling in, out, and back into love before the credits roll.

Drew Barrymore finally makes the countdown.  Ever After just missed hitting the Top 100 (told you, Chick Flicks rule!), and Drew will actually be back again, so that's not too bad to hit 2 times, and both be in the Top 25. : )

Then there is Hugh Grant.  The man was born and bred to star in these movies, and normally, if he is in a movie, I will get around to watching it.  Aside from his usual stellar acting, he even provides his own vocals to all of his 80s hits.  Well done Hugh!

He also just missed the countdown with Mickey Blue Eyes.  It was hard to leave out, but this was a tough list to make!

Again, I should've bumped Star Wars!

: )