Love Autopsy

Another great movie in our collection is one that I enjoyed with my friend Molly. She is a good movie watching partner. She let's me convince her that the upcoming film is really good and I get to watch what I want to watch anyway. It is great. 

Today I am writing about the wonder that is Music and Lyrics with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant. It also stars Brad Garrett and Kristen Johnston as some supporting characters that are important. The best part about this movie is that it kind of recaptures the awesomeness that was movie musicals that I loved to watch growing up. There is some singing, the people who star in the movie do the singing and the soundtrack is very much available for purchase and repeat listening. When I first saw this film I bought the soundtrack for everyone I knew- especially Amelia. I knew she would appreciate it and she did. Amelia is a great friend to share music with- she loves the traditional musical soundtrack and humors you when you want to show her something new. Those are the best friends to keep around. 

Hugh Grant plays part of an 80s music group called Pop and could be defined as a "has been" Alex Fletcher. Sophie is an adorable yet quirky former English major played by Barrymore. Alex is commissioned by a modern pop diva, Cora Corman, to write a new song and he needs a lyricist. Together Sophie and Alex make an excellent pair and an awesome song that you will find yourself singing as the film continues. As a viewer you cannot help but love them and their awkwardness. Well I could not help it. Maybe because I could see myself in Sophie's "squareness." I am about as square as they come and I am oddly mesmerized by characters that are still cool when they play it straight edge. Or maybe it is that Sophie is slightly neurotic but something about her is attractive to formerly too suave for his own good but sarcastically funny Alex Fletcher. Look, let's just say that both of these characters have traits that I can relate to while watching the film which is why it is one of my favorites. But seriously, who does not love a romcom.

At the end of the film, after some conflict, you want to dance to the music and have your own 80s pop star romance. But if you were watching this as part of an RA program you would have to have more of a substantive program for it to be approved. I suggest thinking about this program in terms of the song writing process. When I was in 7th grade we were challenged to write another verse to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." The fact that I remember Mrs. Stafford giving us that assignment is one thing, but I remember loving that task and being so proud of the final result. How fun would it be for your floor to write another verse to record a verse of "A Way into Love?" I bet your campus radio station also has the capability to record your floor singing the song including their very own verse. What an awesome memory and a great way to have a floor keepsake that everyone can load onto their iPods and listen to for years to come.