‘The High Note’ Review: A Cute At-Home Date Night Film

It’s been a minute since we’ve seen any new movies from sources other than Netflix and Hulu, but that changed for me last week when I was able to do an advanced at-home screening of The High Note, which releases on PVOD today.

Saying that I was thrilled to do an early screening of a new film… well, it’s an understatement (this critic really misses movie screenings)! So last Thursday night, I grabbed my husband, a bottle of wine and snacks, and got cozy for a date-night-in.

So let’s talk about The High Note. The film is set in Los Angeles and tells the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a legendary musician of her time whose sizable ego also rivals the size of her fame. Her overworked personal assistant, Maggie (Dakota Johnson), is an aspiring music producer – who takes the liberty of mixing one Grace’s songs for re-release. Grace’s manager (Ice Cube) is none-to-happy with Maggie “overstepping,” and the professional relationship between the three becomes increasingly stressful and unpleasant. However, there is hope for Maggie, as she has another artist that she’s begun working with, and he might just be positioned to change all of their lives.

Check out the trailer for the film below.

The High Note Trailer

There’s a lot of Hollywood cliches here, but the story remains charming. My major complaint is that it feels like there are two completely different stories – which is the result of a pretty big twist in the third act. That twist is a bit disorienting to the film you thought you were watching, but that being said, it’s not predictable. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing here.

The cast all does a fine job here. No standout performances, but solid ones none-the-less. Tracee Ellis Ross captures the essence of her character, Grace Davis, with ease. And Dakota Johnson plays a character that feels very similar to every other character she plays – adorably awkward, unassumingly attractive, and soft-spoken. She’s essentially Anastasia Steele (from Fifty Shades of Grey) just living in a different city and working in a different industry. But it works here.

In short, The High Note isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s fun and entertaining – and it’s great for what it is – a cute, stay-in date-night movie. So if you’re looking for some nostalgic cinematic vibes this weekend, The High Note is rather catchy. 

The High Note Review:

Grade: B