Movie Review: The High Note

For what initially looks like a slightly above average tearjerker of a slog through a castoff Lifetime movie of the week, the new dramedy, The High Note, from Focus Features proves to be a surprisingly delightful tale that showcases the talents of its two leads, Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross, and makes for a refreshing change of pace from the action and/or adventure films that have traditionally kicked off the summer film season.

The High Note is set amidst the Los Angeles music scene and centers on preparations for the upcoming greatest hits tour of superstar Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a singer whose talent, and ego, have climbed to great heights, and Maggie (Dakota Johnson), Davis’ overworked personal assistant. Although she is relegated to running errands for her demanding boss, Maggie aspires to become a record producer, and seems to find the perfect artist to help her achieve this when she meets and begins working with David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). But when her two worlds threaten to collide with one another, Maggie must make a choice whether to remain loyal to Grace or follow her heart with David.

The film is directed by Nisha Ganatra (who most recently helmed the Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling vehicle Late Night in 2019) from a script by first-time screenwriter Flora Greeson. Although there are a few patches that could have been tightened up a bit to accelerate the narrative just a little, the whole of the story moves at a breezy pace and remains remarkably entertaining throughout.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Dakota Johnson in “The High Note.” Photo by Glen WIlson – © 2020 FOCUS FEATURES LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Besides the solid work by Johnson (probably best known for her work in the “Fifty Shades” series) as the young ingénue of sorts, Ross delivers a tour de force performance as the isolated, sheltered diva, by clearly channeling her mother, Diana Ross. As the heretofore love interest, David, Kelvin Harrison Jr. does a fine job of portraying the character with just the right amount of talent and feigned naiveté to allow the end of his character’s arc to come as somewhat of a surprise, and a satisfactory one as well. Rounding out the cast are affable turns from Ice Cube as Grace’s manager and Bill Pullman as Maggie’s father.

While some may feel or see the wrap-up at the end of The High Note coming from a mile away, the journey is still an entertaining one due to the work of the talent onscreen and the obvious affinity everyone involved had for the story and its outcome.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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