There are two kinds of movies I don't watch often because they're rarely done well.
The first is scary movies. No, I'm not talking about the horror genre where someone chases you through a corn field with the chainsaw but movies that are actually supposed to be tense throughout and keep you guessing what's going on. The only recent movie I've seen that really scared me from beginning to end was The Ring. (See how far back I have to go!) Now that was a movie that not only had me tense but a truly creepy bad guy, and a great ending. (I know lots of people didn't like the ending but I thought it was a perfect ending for that movie. Too bad the sequel was horrible.)
The second is romantic comedies. Comedies of any type are difficult to write and I applaud those who try because humor writing is not my strong suit. Not only are these extremely difficult to make, when they do succeed the filmmakers usually are successful in the romantic part but fall far short on the comedy level. The last good romantic comedy I reviewed, The Lake House, fell into that category. That movie succeeded it the romantic department (and was a good film overall) but I don't recall laughing much when I watched.
But this last weekend Marathon Girl and I actually saw a romantic comedy that succeeded in the comedy end and mostly in the romantic end too. That movie? Music & Lyrics.
(Yes, I know that movie came out in February but with three young, active kids we rarely are able to see movies as soon as they come out.)
Okay the movie wasn't perfect. It was a little too cheesy in some areas and I'm not a huge fan of Drew Barrymore or her acting, but this movie had me rolling on the floor with laughter. So much so that I stopped caring about all the other faults the film had.
Here's the type of humor you can expect in the film:
Alex Fletcher: The best time I've had in the last fifteen years was sitting at that piano with you. Sophie Fisher: That's wonderfully sensitive... especially from a man who wears such tight pants. Alex Fletcher: It forces all the blood to my heart.
And this:
Alex Fletcher: Theoretically, I could pick you up because I will be taking a cab. Sophie Fisher: I could be standing outside at 9:40 in bright orange clothes, so you wouldn't miss me... Alex Fletcher: Oh, good, you'll get some road work done while you wait, then.
Or even this:
Alex Fletcher: [singing] Sleeping with a clown above my bed... [spoken] "Clown" is not right Sophie Fisher: That's "cloud." Why would you put a clown in your bed? Alex Fletcher: It would not be the first time.
For those who have always wondered how to make me laugh, that's exactly how to do it.
Music & Lyrics is the first romantic comedy in recent memory that I've not only enjoyed more than Marathon Girl but laughed more than a couple of time. I enjoyed it so much that when Marathon Girl's sister came over the next night I watched it again and laughed even harder the second time I saw it.
Three stars (out of four) for the funniest movie I've seen in years. A must see for those who find the above examples funny.
