Pop Goes My Heart.
February 20, 2007 – 8:44 am |You know I’m not much of a critic. I’ve tried before, but I think the problem is that overall I’m just too easy to please. I like everything. With that disclaimer in place …
Saturday we went to an early evening matinee of Music and Lyrics … me and sis and some girlfriends of hers. There was a big buttered popcorn, and a large 1/2 cherry, 1/2 diet coke, and some Squirms. No kids. No worries about whether hubs would like the movie. Just girls and food.
When the movie started with a fun parody of an 80’s pop video starring Hugh Grant as the has-been 1/2 of an 80’s group called ‘Pop’ I was hooked. The fact that Kristen Johnston played Drew Barrymore’s older, married-with-children sister, living vicariously through her little sister’s romantic life, struck a chord with us. (Although I did notice that Johnston’s towering frame dwarfed Drew in some scenes to the point I had difficulty believing the two could legitimately be related).
Thematically, Music and Lyrics simultaneously parodies and embraces the simple and sweet pop lyric, pointing out that nothing makes you feel better than the right combination of a good melody and a sweet line about love. Similarly, even as the movie is formulaic and predictable, it successfully combines the right elements of the romantic comedy to make you leave with a smile, and I quite enjoyed it. If you want to read a real review - some reviewers agree, and others do not.
Other notes on the weekend … in an effort to include everyone’s advice … Saturday night I chose the swirly margaritas, Sunday night I went with the expensive martinis, which required a Monday morning Mountain Dew. I also spent way too much money on new underwear, pajamas and the cutest sundress I won’t wear for at least three months (extravagant spending while shopping is a hazard of visiting Sis).
We watched at least one large chunk of the following movies on cable: Now and Then, A Walk to Remember, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Pretty Woman. We did stop to consider at what age I need to stop lusting after the male lead in a high school romance. Fearing I may be long past the point of no return, we left the question unanswered and moved on to wondering what happened to Shane West after he appeared as the only value in A Walk to Remember?
Oh, I also listened intently while several young, cute, childless women explained to me about how they plan to avoid pregnancy weight by simply staying really healthy during pregnancy. I just nodded and smiled. Some of the secrets of mommyhood are best kept to ourselves, right?
