Jamie passion and passionfruit!

A pleasant romantic comedy with the odd cynical look at the music industry.  Very much a formula Hugh Grant movie as he plays an 80’s pop star washed up in New York and playing theme parks to make a living.  Still a hit with the 40-something ladies.  Grant does a good job with his character and there is quite a lot o say about pop success and how hard it is to get and sustain. And Hugh sings and dances for good measure!   Drew Barrymore who waters his plants ends up being his unlikely new lyricist and love interest.  In a somewhat unconvincing and underwritten part, she does her very best and is cute but most of all the romantic side doesn’t really come off.  Her comedy timing does.  The bit players led by Kristen Johnson as Rhonda, Drew’s sister and no 1 groupie of Hugh’s character is a riot and Haley Bennett as the Britney/Christina/Shakira clone does good work.  Great music, some nice comments on the business and an enjoyable if light 90 minutes at the cinema. Not to be taken too seriously. Enjoy, as the Americans say.

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