Over the last two months, as movie theaters around the world remained closed, studios have opted to release certain films straight to video on-demand instead of waiting for a theatrical rollout. The latest of theses is Focus Features' The High Note, a romantic comedy set in the world of the music industry. In The High Note, director Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) and first-time screenwriter Flora Greeson attempt to craft a movie that blends music drama and romantic comedy, but don't quite nail the balance. Still, the movie follows many of the conventions of romantic comedies and offers a - slightly - new perspective, giving it some freshness. The High Note is an enjoyable, if not particularly inventive, rom-com that's more infatuated with the music industry than developing its romance.
The High Note follows Maggie Sherwood (Dakota Johnson), an aspiring music producer who spends her days working as the personal assistant to megastar Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross). When Grace's manager Jack (Ice Cube) tells Maggie she needs to have artists in her roster to be a producer, she sets out to find an artist of her own. She comes across young singer-songwriter David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who she believes has the talent and star power to make it big in the industry. But as Maggie gets more invested in producing David's music and distracted from her work as Grace's personal assistant, it remains to be seen if she'll be able to balance everything in her life and ultimately achieve her dreams.
There's something to be said about the comfort in familiar stories, and The High Note certainly taps into universal themes of ambition, romance and love (of all types, not just the romantic kind). Hollywood has explored the story of a young up-and-comer attempting to carve out their place in a daunting industry, often mixing that story with romance. The High Note follows this same trajectory, with Maggie a devoted fan of music who just wants her shot to prove herself. It's a familiar story because it's a good one, and Greeson's script hits all the right beats, even if it doesn't dig too deep into any of the characters. It does take a little longer for The High Note to get going, for the actual story to kickstart, but once it does, Greeson's script delivers a delightful (if, in certain ways, bland) movie experience.
For their parts, the cast of The High Note do what they can to bring some personality to an otherwise run-of-the-mill rom-com/drama. Ross is a standout as Grace Davis, who's a pop icon choosing between a 10-year Las Vegas residency and releasing a new album (and while watching The High Note, it's difficult not to wonder whether that's a more interesting movie). Similarly, Harrison Jr's David is a young man with all the talent of a star who's held back by his insecurities. But, like Grace, his character is left underdeveloped in favor of Johnson's Maggie. Though Johnson has plenty of experience in romance dramas thanks to her time in the Fifty Shades franchise, she blends a bit into the background in The High Note, while her co-stars shine much brighter despite her ostensibly being the lead.
Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of The High Note is its music, both the soundtrack of classic songs and its original numbers written for Ross and Harrison Jr. The High Note is, like Maggie herself, more invested and in love with music than anything else (which may be why the romantic storyline doesn't quite work). But to the film's credit, it delivers plenty of wonderful music to back up its dedication to the industry. Ganatra's movie also lets viewers enjoy the music, lingering on Maggie as she listens to one of Grace's live album tracks she's producing, and uses the music to emphasize the emotions behind the story. The result is an audio spectacle, but one that drags a bit in between each of the big musical beats.
Ultimately, The High Note is comfort-food cinema at a time when audiences need comfort. It's not the most imaginative or fresh romantic comedy, nor does it tell the most original story, even set within the music industry. But it hits all the right story beats and delivers enough character development for the ending to feel satisfying. The soundtrack is arguably the best thing about The High Note, but for a movie about music, that's par for the course. And thankfully The High Note delivers the richness and depth lacking in the movie's script in the film's soundtrack, creating a compelling audio experience even if the characters and storyline aren't as developed as they could be. In the end, audiences won't go wrong with checking out The High Note at home, especially any viewers who are already a fan of rom-coms and/or music dramas.
The High Note is now available on video on-demand. It is 113 minutes long and rated PG-13 for some strong language and suggestive references.
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