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10 Romantic Comedies With Killer Interiors

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:00:08 PDT

Romantic comedies may get a bad rap for cheesy, predictable plots, but I must hand it to them for triumphing when it comes to set design. Ready to see a few of my favorite romantic comedy interiors? Here we go!

Music and Lyrics: In Praise of Pop

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:03:27 PST

In Music and Lyrics, Hugh Grant plays Alex Fletcher, an aging pop star from an '80s band called Pop who, in his heyday, looked like a cross between Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes and Wham!’s George Michael. He has been reduced to performing at theme parks and on the VH1-esque “Battle of the 80’s Has-Beens” until one day he receives word that Cora Corman, the pop princess du jour, wants him to help her compose a song for her new album.

Although Alex hires a professional lyricist, it's only when Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) comes to water his plants and shows a surprising knack for songwriting that the tune - and their love - come together. Music, meet lyrics.

A mixed bag, to be sure, Music and Lyrics gets off to a clunky start and ends in a predictable pool of feel-good treacle. But it’s the chewy center of this Tootsie Pop of a film that makes it worth watching, so

The scenes between Barrymore and Grant in Alex’s Manhattan apartment, as they attempt to cobble together the catchy tune “Find A Way Back Into Love,” are reminiscent of Woody Allen’s great 70’s New York films like Annie Hall. Here, Grant and Barrymore (who do their own singing) share a relaxed, silly, and sweet rapport that makes their surprising chemistry work. As Sophie paces around clicking her pen, we discover that she has given up her desire to write because of an ex-lover who convinced her she was no good.

Melodies are like sex, Sophie theorizes, and lyrics are like getting to know one another. The build-up of Alex and Sophie’s attraction around this conceit of song-writing actually works. You get caught up in their romance, and although you know they sleep together, it’s the long-awaited performance of their completed song that that constitutes the true climax of Music and Lyrics.

It is in these song-writing scenes, as well, that the film forges its “defense of pop” thesis. Pop is an oft-maligned genre, but Sophie tries to convince Alex that both his band Pop and the genre itself have their virtues. “How many novels does it take to create the feeling of one good pop song?“ she asks. She’s got a point, I found myself thinking. Certain good pop songs allow us to mainline their emotions, providing quick hits of fun or even redemption in one short, sweet package. Like a good pop song, the romantic comedy must also find a balance between fluff and meaning, and Music and Lyrics interjects enough “minor key” moments into its silly notes that you actually walk away feeling that you’ve met people you care about.

In the end, Music and Lyrics makes a claim for a nostalgic kind of pop, before the over-produced likes of Britney and Avril came along. At the end of the film, when Cora and Alex finally perform “Find a Way Back Into Love,” Cora eschews her Britney-esque stage antics (involving Buddha and a lot of gyrating) and just sings the heartfelt duet. I’m humming the song right now as I write this, and I agree with the teenage girl I overheard as I left the theater saying, “I want that song as my ringtone!”

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Movie Preview: Music and Lyrics

BuzzSugar — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 08:12:43 PST

In the new romantic comedy Music and Lyrics, Hugh Grant plays a washed up singer in need of new lyrics. Drew Barrymore plays the person who helps him write those lyrics, and they grow fond of each other. Predictions: Drew Barrymore is a cutesy goofball, and Hugh Grant is a sexless, aging bloke with some dry one-liners and near-vertical eyebrows.

Who knows? Maybe this movie will surprise me by being super interesting and fun. Until I find out, though, I'm going in with a wary eye. Look for my review on Wednesday, and to watch the trailer,

Because I Said So: Mama Said There'd Be Movies Like This

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:52:15 PST

Let me preface this review by saying that I have, up until this moment, been a firm supporter of Diane Keaton. I’ve loved her from Annie Hall through Baby Boom, and I even stuck by her during the Something’s Gotta Give period. Yet her newest movie, Because I Said So, leaves me feeling a deep and confusing disappointment that's going to take a long time to get over.

This isn’t one of those bad-good films that's silly and campy in a heartwarming way. This is bad-bad all the way. Think squirming in embarrassment during moments of random 4-part singing without an ounce of irony. Multiply that feeling by a thousand and then decide if you want to see this movie. My advice is: don't.

Keaton plays Daphne Wilder, an overbearing, manic 60-year-old mother of three grown daughters, two of whom are married. The third child, Milly (Mandy Moore), despite being a responsible and happy person, is the one trouble spot in Daphne's life because she hasn't found her "life partner." So Daphne takes out an online ad to find a suitable mate for Milly. As a result, two different bachelors start courting Milly: a dreamboat musician (made "edgy" by his tattoos) and another guy who is laughably lame (rich, uptight, and cold). Amidst all this meddling, Daphne almost misses out on her own chance at love. Almost, but of course, not quite, so

The actresses in this film may have had fun making it, but the relationships ring empty, and the moments that are supposed to be truthful are reduced to high-pitched indecipherable squealing. Keaton is so shrieky and over-the-top that the only point I felt anything other than irritation toward Daphne is when she catches a flu, loses her voice, and has a quiet moment with Milly discussing orgasms. This relaxed moment happens to be Mandy Moore’s finest as well; otherwise her starry-eyed naivete is tiresome.

Lauren Graham is refreshing as Lorelai Gilmore - oops, I mean Milly's sister Maggie. Though slightly tamer than her Loralei character, she basically provides the same deadpan humor. Piper Perabo plays Milly's other sister, Mae, and she's barely in the movie. The "7th Heaven" dad (Stephen Collins) is actually endearing and sweet for the whole six lines he's allowed, while the other guys are 2-dimensional but very cute (especially the musician, played by Gabriel Macht).

There's also an appearance by Tony Hale, who was excellent as Buster Bluth in "Arrested Development," so it's a shame that he's involved in the most eye-rollingly bad writing in the entire film. Loralei/Maggie is a therapist who meets regularly with Stuart (Hale), who says he responded to a personal ad that a woman took out for her daughter. Maggie proceeds to belittle any woman who would stoop to that kind of low, not knowing she's bashing her own mother. When Stuart says the woman's reasoning for not having him date her daughter was "because I said so," Maggie realizes he's talking about her mother! Because clearly, no other mother in the course of history has ever used that catch phrase. Remember that confused disappointment I mentioned? This moment helped to solidify that.

I've already expressed my distaste for the term "chick flick," and this movie really exacerbates the issue. I am a chick, and I don’t identify with a single minute of the rubbish that is this movie. In fact, Because I Said So only serves to fulfill every tired cliché that women are typically lumped into - and worse, it treats female singlehood like a hereditary disease. With the help of modern science (the Internet), Daphne does everything in her power to disable the nasty gene that could leave Milly to doomed to the apparent misery of not having a husband.

It's a sad day for me and Diane Keaton. I'm going to watch Annie Hall this weekend and weep for the good ol' days. I suggest you do the same.

Romantic Comedy Clichés and the Movies That Can't Resist Them

BuzzSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:11:50 PST

When we asked you to name as many romantic comedy clichés as you could think of, you responded with some great ones, so we went ahead and matched them up with movie examples. Check out the clichés provided by commenters, and see just how common some of these really are.

Katherine Heigl's Romantic Comedy History: Her Leading Men

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:30:14 PST

Katherine Heigl stars in this week's new release One For the Money as Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter who falls for her target, played by Jason O'Mara. O'Mara is just the latest in a long line of leading men for Heigl, who has quite the resume of romantic comedies. From the dreamy to the sweet to the even dreamier, Heigl has an envious list of men in her onscreen relationship history. We've put together a slideshow of all of her big-screen sweethearts, so check them out and let us know who your favorite is.

Seeking a Friend For the End of the World Trailer: Steve Carell Finds Keira Knightley

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:41:36 PST

In Seeking a Friend For the End of the World, Steve Carell plays Dodge, a man facing the reality that an asteroid is about the destroy the earth and he, along with everyone else, has to figure out what to do with the last three weeks of his life. For people like Patton Oswalt's character, it's sleeping with as man people as possible, but for regretful Dodge, it's love. When he meets his pixie-ish neighbor, played by Keira Knightley, she takes it upon herself to help Dodge find the girl that got away, if he helps her see her family before the world ends.

The trailer is very funny, considering its bleak subject matter (I giggled at Melanie Lynskey's character wearing all the clothes she never had a chance to wear), and Carell is the perfect leading man for the dark comedy. I'm especially curious to see what his chemistry with Knightley is like, and even though the title and what we see in the trailer implies it's just a friendship, it seems like something romantic must come up - the world is ending, after all. Seeking a Friend For the End of the World is released April 20, so to watch the trailer, just keep reading.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Direct a Romantic Comedy With Scarlett Johansson

BuzzSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:46:42 PST

All the details on Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut - NextMovie
Here are some ideas about who might father Sue's baby on Glee - BuddyTV
See pics of Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron in Prometheus - Rotten Tomatoes
Read about the comedy that will reunite Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn - /Film
Watch Zooey Deschanel's SNL promos - HuffPost TV
See Oscar banners featuring classics like Annie Hall - Moviefone
Find out when the Pauly D spinoff is premiering - Zap2It
Here's a soundtrack to soothe your broken heart - Flavorwire
What relationships were like in the days of Downton Abbey - TrèsSugar

Name That Movie: "Heart" Filled Edition

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 PST

With Valentine's season upon us, we've decided to celebrate in a movie-filled way. Not all these films may be the romantic comedies you might associate with the holiday, but they each have the word "heart" perfectly placed somewhere in the title. Can you match the photo to the movie it comes from? And don't worry - even if you don't get 100 percent, we'll still love you.

Question 1 of 5

Name that movie:

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

Breaking Dawn Part 1

Twilight's star-crossed lovers Edward and Bella (Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart) tie the knot in this installment, but their idyllic honeymoon is interrupted when they discover that vampires can, in fact, impregnate humans. Bella is willing to do anything to protect the life of her baby, Edward will do anything to save Bella, and Jacob tries to keep his wolfpack at bay. The movie goes quickly from cheesily romantic to surprisingly graphic, but the film is very loyal to the book. DVD extras include a six-part making-of documentary, a wedding video, a Jacob featurette, and a commentary track with the director.

25%

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Harold and Kumar (John Cho and Kal Penn) reunite for this holiday-themed sequel, the third part in their drug-fueled comedy series. This time, the guys have grown apart (Harold is now a husband in the suburbs while Kumar is a slacker in the city), but Christmas Eve hijinks force them to work together and grow close again. The boys - and Neil Patrick Harris - are as raunchy as ever, but this installment is as funny as the original, and festive to boot. DVD extras include deleted scenes.

69%

See one more new release after the jump.