&#8220Music and Lyrics” certainly won’t break any new ground in the romantic comedy genre, but there is a great sense of charm hidden within the familiarity. Aided by two perfect leads, the film is delightful fluff that may not challenge its audience – but will definitely entertain them.

Hugh Grant stars as Alex Fletcher, a washed-up singer best known as the other guy in a 1980s group named PoP! (think Andrew Ridgley of Wham!). Fletcher is content with living off the past and performing at amusement parks and tractor pulls. But the aging singer gets a chance to reclaim the spotlight when he is approached by a teen sensation named Cora (Haley Bennett) and given three days to write her next hit single.

At first Fletcher is stumped, but he finds inspiration in an unlikely muse named Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) – an eccentric young woman with a flair for words. Fletcher and Fisher begin to work together and eventually fall in love.

Writer/director Marc Lawrence gets a lot of mileage out of what is essentially a razor-thin premise, with a huge assist from his cast.

Grant has been playing a variation of this character for so long he can practically do it in his sleep. Barrymore has really developed a knack as the sweet-natured love interest, and she doesn’t disappoint here. Both performances are made even better by the natural chemistry between the two leads – so critical in a romantic comedy.

&#8220Music and Lyrics” also has the added bonus of newcomer Bennett, who is comic gold as the off-the-wall Shakira wannabe teen queen.

The film does tend to force its conflict in the final act, and a subplot involving Fisher’s past kind of disappears until a reveal during the closing credits (although it is done in a clever way with a take off of the old VH-1 series &#8220Pop-up Videos”).

But the shortcomings are easily forgivable because everyone involved is so likable. &#8220Music and Lyrics” probably won’t be a film that has any lasting impact, but it is the perfect film for a Valentine’s weekend – a cinematic bon-bon in a market void of many other romantic treats.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is &#8220Half Nelson” (A) – the little-seen indie drama that features the best male performance of 2006.

Ryan Gosling plays Dan, an inner-city junior high school teacher who serves as an inspiration for his students. But Dan’s wrestling with his own demons – namely a drug habit that began as a way to escape the pains of his own life.

Dan is able to hide his addiction until he is caught smoking crack in a bathroom by one of his students named Drey (Shareeka Epps).

After the incident, Dan and Drey form an unlikely friendship – with both Drey trying to help Dan shed his demons, while Dan tries to help Drey overcome the struggles of living with a single mother in the inner-city.

&#8220Half Nelson” was cowritten and directed by 30-year-old Ryan Fleck. The young filmmaker does a fantastic job of taking material that could have easily been the plot for a bad after-school special and turning it into a unique character study.

Fleck’s material is aided by two very strong performances.

Epps was a revelation as Drey – she displayed a sense of calm and maturity that you don’t see in many young actors. It’s a shame that she didn’t get an Oscar nomination, because Epps truly deserved it.

Gosling did get nominated and should win. His performance is off the charts, with Gosling playing off his pretty boy persona from &#8220The Notebook” and then shattering that stereotype. Gosling’s performance is dark and vulnerable – a flawed character who means well, but can’t seem to shake the skeletons in his closet.

Gosling’s performance alone is enough reason to recommend the film. Throw in Epps and a smart screenplay and you have the recipe for one of 2006’s best films.

&#8220Half Nelson” is rated R for drug content, language and some sexuality and is now available on DVD.