Extremely Shallow Film Reviews, Part 3: Music & Lyrics, Starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore
"I've been sleeping with a clown above my bed...."
Congratulations, PR department who worked on this movie. Your job is done. A full three days after watching this cinematic piece of dried dog poop, I suddenly found myself spontaneously humming as I walked home. What was I humming, you ask? Well, I was humming "A Way Back Into Love," the song Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore write for the teenage pop tart Cora in this joyless, soulless, totally predictable sapfest.
I feel the need to remind you that THIS IS NOT A REAL SONG. This is a song that Hugh Grant (loveable scamp Alex Fletcher) and Drew Barrymore (irritating plant-waterer Sophie Fisher, who does, admittedly, wear nice dresses) make up over the course of the entire film. It is certainly not a very good song (although teenage pop tart Cora---who, by the way, Shakira should be filing some sort of lawsuit over---certainly likes it enough to wiggle her hips around to it.) I mean honestly, the lyrics of this song---which Loveable Scamp Alex and Irritating Plant Waterer Sophie positively agonize over---make "Hit Me Baby One More Time" look like Rainer Maria Rilke.
And yet why is it that I googled them as soon as I got home---and the YouTube video---just to make sure I had them all clear in my head when I was singing them in the shower the next morning? Bravo, Grant, you've done it again; your fopishness may now be painful to watch, but it's the good kind of pain, the "just 20 more situps and I'll have rock-hard abs and a greater sense of self-worth" sort of pain.
But oh, of all the things I had to remember in my life---people's birthdays, the Spanish for "butter," why I just came into the kitchen in the first place---did a second-rate melody from a third-rate movie have to be one of them? I don't care about finding a way back into love, I just want to find a way to get this song out of my head.
Jul 12, 2007
Oh my - I saw this horrific movie on a plane ride last month, ripped off the earphones in disgust at the end...and then found myself humming this exact tune a few hours after we landed. I wanted to punch myself (and Hugh Grant) in the face after that. Glad I'm not alone! :)
Jul 12, 2007
Sadly, I watched this movie this past weekend while my boy was out of town. Because, you know, he has dignity. Pride, even. And would never have wasted his life watching the ENTIRE movie one fine Sunday morning. Also, I was shocked SHOCKED when my spin instructor played this EXACT song at the end of class the other day. As in, I started singing along until I realized what it was and hung my head in shame. All the way home.
Jul 12, 2007
I have to admit that I willingly watched the movie, didn't hate it, and enjoyed the songs even more. Especially that piano ballad. Oh, the piano ballad. I even looked into buying the soundtrack. I have no shame.
Jul 12, 2007
Might I recommend watching a Hugh Grant movie with a fantastic soundtrack, 'About A Boy'. That way, you'll get the crappy song out of your head & you can still look at the gorgeous loveable scamp that is Hugh Grant!
Jul 12, 2007
God, I hear ya on this one! I went in hopes of a nice, light entertaining flick and walked out feeling the same way: why oh why did I waste my time and money on that load of malarky?! (as my good ol' Daddy would say!) Looking back, I STILL can't believe I insisted on this as our film choice that evening. At least my boy didn't complain TOO much, but I honestly don't think he GOT why it was THAT BAD!
Jul 12, 2007
Whenever I am trying to force an unwanted song from my head, I start humming "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago. Works every time.
You're welcome.
Jul 12, 2007
My surefire earworm cure: Lola by the Kinks. One time will do it. Just hearing the word Lola works for me. The last time I used it my other options were, bang my head against something hard and resilient or spend another week humming Edelweiss. Lola was the most preferable option.
Jul 12, 2007
Hi there,
I've been reading for a couple months, just wanted to come out of the blogging closet and de-lurk. I really enjoy your style of writing and am loving your adventures in SF. I'm originally from the Central Coast of CA, now hailing from the PNW.
HI from (sweaty) Seattle!
Also, I liked Music and Lyrics. But then, I like most anything Drew is in. Not sure why. Something about her "adorable stroke victim" way of talking out of the side of her mouth. My obsession with her started with E.T., actually.
And, now I've got that song in my head, too. Wonder if I can buy it on iTunes ...
Jul 12, 2007
I didn't realize I had this on my netflix but nevertheless when it came I popped it into my DVD player. I can't get back that time of my life and I feel that Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore owe me money.
Jul 12, 2007
Oh, it wasn't that bad. I've seen worse. I feel very strongly that My Best-Friend's Wedding is one of the dumbest movies ever.
Check out Love, Actually. Great soundtrack and Hugh even dances. Quite cute.
Jul 12, 2007
My husband Geoff loves that film and even bought the soundtrack. I'm only telling you this so I can claim some sympathy points for having to listen to the soundtrack over and over and over again.
Jul 12, 2007
Friends with Money. DO NOT WANT.
That is all.
Jul 12, 2007
Um the MOVIE "Friends with Money". ACTUAL Friends, with money. Want.
Jul 12, 2007
Thanks to reading this post, I can avoid an evening of aggravation. Also I now have "Lola" stuck in my head.
Jul 12, 2007
Hi there
Like Jen, I've been reading your blog for a while now and just wanted to de-lurk. Hello!
I'm originally from Singapore and lived in England for 7 years, so I get some of your Far East Plaza references. :)
Anyway, I watched the movie on Valentine's Day with a bunch of good friends. It was exactly what I needed - light and fluffy. And we all came out of the cinema unable to get the tune out of our heads.
And now, I am going to spend the rest of my afternoon watching the YouTube clip over and over again. Thanks! :)
Sabrina
Jul 12, 2007
Pop went my BRAIN when I saw that movie.
Jul 12, 2007
Actually at our house, the tune that bumps around our heads (mine and my daughters, ages 11 & 8) is "Pop Goes My Heart". They totally nailed that 80's vibe and the video that starts the movie is dead on. Guess you had to be a teen in the 80's to really appreciate it. I was totally cracking up about that. Say what you will, but Hugh Grant is adorable.
Jul 12, 2007
This song seems to be the "stickiest" (at least for my brain) yet:
Hey There Delilah
It's better than the macarena or Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
Jul 13, 2007
This exact thing happened to me when I saw that movie. Even now, it still creeps in every now and then. Be gone, foul thing!
Jul 13, 2007
I have to say i did like this movie. Even watched it twice. Surprisingly it was better the second time. I only bring this up to tell you that I have heard that the foolproof way to get rid of a song is to sing the Flintstones theme song.
Flintstones .... meet the flintstones ...
Jul 13, 2007
At least you're not singing Cora's first bump-n-grinder in the beginning of the movie..."I've got to have my Buddha's delight! (Om shanti shanti)"
Not that I would know anything about that, yeah.
Jul 15, 2007
>My husband Geoff loves that film and even bought the soundtrack. I’m only telling you this so I can claim some sympathy points for having to listen to the soundtrack over and over and over again.
CORRECTION - I illegally downloaded six songs from the soundtrack and did not pay for them.
I did however buy it on DVD when it came out.
Ah... bugger.
Jul 16, 2007
Great. Now I have the song in my head AGAIN. :)
Jul 16, 2007
Mantequilla!