Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a former sideman from a Wham!-inspired ’80s new wave band called ‘PoP!’
Hugh’s nearly washed-up character gets the promise of a career boost from slinky Cora Corman (Haley Bennett), a Britney Spears-like singer who appoints Alex to write a duet song called “Way Back Into Love.”
Classy.
With only melody writing as his strong suit, Alex persuades his loquacious substitute houseplant keeper Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) to help him write a song that Cora must choose over versions she assigned to other musicians.
The novelty of comedic musical hooks, and the eye pleasing coupling of Barrymore and Grant, dissolves with writer/director Marc Lawrence’s (“Miss Congeniality”) predictable storyline.
Rated PG-13. 86 mins.
