This film is very light, certainly not film festival material. Yet it is cute and entertaining for me.

Hugh Grant plays a middle aged ex-pop singer from the 80s named Alex Fletcher. Although he had gone through some glorious years as a pop star, he now does odd gigs, such as at a small stage in an amusement park, high school reunions of people who graduated in the 80s, etc.

At one point he got the opportunity to come back into mainstream music by writing a song for a very popular 'modern' singer Cora (a super sexy sultry singer who looks like a combination of Britney, Christina, Shakira, who is somehow very spiritual and peaceful). This character in the film is very entertaining. Ajaib banget, tapi koq orang nya nornal2 aja.

Alex Fletcher then by coincidence was getting help from Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) who also has her own personal issues to deal with.

The songs in this film are really simple and catchy. The song (in the form of a music video) in the opening sequence really mocks and imitate the music videos of the 80s. Okay, perhaps it's more of an homage. The title of that song is "Pop! goes my heart" in which members of the band dance around popping their hips left and right.

Hugh Grant is such a "silly English man". I love him in this film. I also liked the discussion between Alex Fletcher the musician, and Sophie who becomes his lyricist, about... what else... Music and Lyrics. What comes first? Music or lyrics? Which is more important?

The relationship between Alex and his manager is very touching... The manager's syle isn't exactly like Jerry Maguire but he really cared about Alex.

Have you all seen it?

I remember when I was in high school and all adults were telling the teenagers: Don't Smoke, Don't Do Drugs, Don't Drink Alcohol, etc.

Apparently, whoever is 'mature', 'established' or is an 'authority' in this country cannot help themselves from saying the following phrases: STOP!, SAY WAR TO ....., SAY NO TO .... and they usually just fill in the blank with whatever it is in their agenda.

You know what? Usually when you prevent someone from doing something, he or she will actually be more curious, or just simply rebel and do the exact opposite.

The other way to do it?

Is there another way? How come nobody has successfully come up with something like a "LOVE YOUR CD" campaign. For example, they should start saying "when you buy the original CD at the store, you become part of history of your favorite musician".

Or as an extreme example, maybe they should create a TV commercial showing a teenager who stays in her classroom during the school's short break, while all her friends are all snacking outside and having fun. Turns out that she's saving her spare change everyday to buy the ehm... upcoming album of Maylaffayza, for example.

The point is, the 'love' approach has been weak while a true appreciation of music is that when you own it, and that you buy it with money that you've earned by working hard, because the artists/musicians (many of them) have also worked hard to produce their records. It's their labor of love, and when the piece of music is bought at the store, it is also paid for by the result of the fan's labor of love. The connection between the two parties is that appreciation.

Anyway, this is just an idea. Hopefully soon I'll go out there myself and start this campaign, and try to change those people who really like to say STOP this and STOP that.