The High Note - Image from Focus Features / Universal Pictures

"I don't care if everyone likes me, I just want to love myself."

Settling in to watch The High Note, I was expecting a movie that would be full of music and a story of the LA music scene.  While this was the case, I was also pleased to find characters that were easily relatable and a story that allowed me to get lost in the film.  The High Note hit all the right notes for me!

The High Note Movie Review

The High Note tells several stories at once and that intertwine in ways you won't even fully realize until the end.  

Meet Maggie (Dakota Johnson).  She is a personal assistant to music superstar Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross).  Margaret has always been passionate about the music industry, however yearns to be more than a personal assistant.  She has a lot of talent and real producer potential, but nobody else seems to believe in her. 

The High Note - Image from Focus Features / Universal Pictures

"You pick peanuts out of my Kung Pao Chicken.  You're not the ticket to people's breakthrough." ~ Grace to Maggie 

Meet Grace.  Grace is a middle-aged music star who is struggling with where she is in her career.  Many of the people surrounding her career want to see "greatest hit" albums and a comfy show in Vegas to wrap up her career, but is Grace ready to stop making new music?  

"Only five women over 40 have ever had a #1 hit and only one of them was black." ~ Grace on her career

Meet Luce (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.).  Luce has potential to be a rising star on the music scene.  Despite a clear talent, something is holding him back.  Maybe he's missing the right producer to show him, and the world, all he can be.

At the end of the day, The High Note is a movie about forgiveness, second chances, and following your dreams.  In the name of following our heart, we often make mistakes and stumbles along the way.  Learning from those and learning how to forgive those who do you wrong is a powerful lesson and one that rings throughout this story.  Grace is far from perfect - arrogant and condescending at the beginning of the movie, but softening as she realizes the value of relationships with those close to her in her life.  And Maggie is also flawed - blinded by her own ambition she risks everything and plays fast and loose with others' careers at the same time all for her chance to make it big.  She, too, learns a lesson in chasing your dreams while remaining honest and humble.  

Love music in the movies? Check out my review of Mighty Oak as well! 

The High Note had me laughing and singing along with the memorable journeys of it's main characters.  A movie with romance, music, and a career focus, it has something for everyone to relate to and enjoy. 

Available on DVD August 11 - Image from Focus Features / Universal Pictures

About The High Note (From Focus Features / Universal Pictures)

Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene comes the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights, and Maggie (Dakota Johnson), her overworked personal assistant. While stuck running errands, Maggie still aspires to her childhood dream of becoming a music producer. When Grace’s manager (Ice Cube) presents her with a choice that could alter the course of her career, Maggie and Grace come up with a plan that could change their lives forever. Visit WatchTheHighNote.com for more information on where to watch at home on demand. Rated PG-13. www.thehighnotefilm.com https://www.facebook.com/thehighnotefilm https://twitter.com/thehighnotefilm https://www.instagram.com/thehighnotefilm

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