Music and Lyrics is a comedic take on what’s involved in writing a song, and explains that process as well as most documentaries produced on popular rock, rap, hair, hip hop, country or contemporary artists. To make it to the charts and maybe the Grammys, you need some talent, timing, the right sound (for the moment) and lots of luck. Few have real staying power.

That’s where Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) finds himself¾ long ago off the charts. Once the lead singer and chief hip gyrator of a popular boy band from England, with the number one hit, "Pop Goes My Heart," Alex now plays county fairs. The ultimate kicker to his fall, is that he’s been invited to literally punch his way to the top in boxing competition against a bunch of other washed up celebrity contenders on a reality show designed to find the biggest, baddest, has-been.

Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) is the hottest teen talent out there. She wants a hit song for her new album and worldwide tour. And she wants Alex to write it in three days. Alex is a music man, and in the old days his partner wrote the lyrics. On cue, enter Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), who’s there to water Alex’s plants. She can’t help adding a word or two as Alex struggles to pull something together along with his vigilant and likeable agent Chris (Brad Garrett, from TVs "Everybody Loves Raymond").

Alex is an aging womanizer, who still attracts the 40-ish set of groupies, including Sophie’s sister Rhonda (Kristen Johnston, lusty Sally from TVs "3^rd Rock From the Sun"), who is one of his biggest fans. Sophie is recovering from being dumped by her professor, who has now released a best selling book based on their relationship and she is sure everyone recognizes her as the flawed main character. Eventually, Sophie and Alex make (if not beautiful) meaningful and hummable music together.

Cora likes it but wants to give it her new age, rock twist. All of a sudden the words don’t fit the music.

Marc Lawrence brings his signature modern day look at romance to this film. He also wrote and directed Miss Congeniality (both 1and 2), and Two Weeks Notice. Music and Lyrics is not art but it is leisure.