Wrong Protagonist: THE HIGH NOTE

Like many of us, I gravitate to stuff about the entertainment industry itself, whether it be movies about making movies, biopics, movie musicals, the music industry… it’s all an easy sell.  Dakota Johnson is also an easy sell for me, Bad Times at the El Royale & Suspiria are the only two films she’s been in that I haven’t yet seen. Tracee Ellis Ross (aka Joan Clayton) is another fav and I can see why she’d be drawn to a story about a female artist whose fame is stuck where the fans know and love her best; unable to reinvent or reach new places, as it could be a career description of her own mother, the incomparable Diana Ross.

Maggie (Johnson) is a personal assistant to the legendary songstress Grace Davis (Ellis Ross) she’s good at her job, but manages it with that quirky, awkwardness that Dakota Johnson has perfected. She’s been with Grace for 3 years and although there’s some not so great stuff that comes with working for a diva, for the most part, they get along and respect each other in their respective ways.  Only Maggie has dreams of being a music producer. Secretly she has been working on remixing tracks for yet another Grace Davis compilation album, something Grace’s longtime manager/friend Jack (Ice Cube) likes to do periodically to keep the money train puffing along. Maggie also secretly convinces a new artist on the rise (Kelvin Harrison, Jr – from Waves) that she’s already a successful producer and gets him to hire her for his debut album; all while moonlighting from her assistant’s gig.  Of course, a little romance ensues.

Focus Features The High Note is directed by Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) from a script by Flora Greeson. The movie is cute for On Demand on a Saturday night, during Corona Lockdown, it hit the spot. However, it’s best it didn’t have a chance to open in theaters, as I don’t feel it would have fared too well.  There’s nothing terribly wrong with it, it’s appealing. The production delivers LA luxury.  Both Johnson and Ellis Ross are convincing and enjoyable in their roles; and I really like the “Love Myself” single from the soundtrack.

Yet, in my opinion, the movie should have centered around Grace Davis and been more of a drama, than comedy.  I would have liked to have seen more of her struggle to come to grips with where she is in her career and life. And to have seen more of how she got to be this icon. We get some of all that, but it’s a side dish, instead of the main course.  Even loving Dakota as I do, I think Maggie’s character should have been the supporting role. Her life and goals weren’t that compelling.  It was her relationship to and with Grace that you wanted to see. When Maggie goes off to do her own thing is when the movie loses its stride.

T&T @largeassmovieblogs rating: 3.5 outta 5