Movies about music are so much fun and The High Note is no exception. I remember seeing trailers for this at the beginning of the year feeling instantly intrigued. And since most big blockbusters are still postponed, I thought a feel good movie like this one was exactly what I needed, especially after my previous bad choice. For my devoted readers, you know what I’m referring to.

Maggie Sherwoode (Dakota Johnson) is the personal assistant to mega-superstar Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross). Grace has been on the scene for years and was always somebody that Maggie looked up to. Working for Grace should be a dream come true, but the gig is not glamorous by any means. The only upside is that Maggie is constantly exposed to the world she so badly wants to break into.

See, Maggie wants to become a music producer. She has an affinity for sound and when the opportunity arises to help launch rising artist David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), it seems like Maggie will finally have her shot. It’s no easy feat though, as her PA duties tend to get hectic and Grace’s manager Jack Robertson (Ice Cube) keeps getting in the way.

This film was like a warm hug. It put the biggest smile on my face and I really enjoyed every moment. The story was quite inspiring as well as uplifting – it moved me to tears on more than one occasion. Only a good movie has that power over me.

Witnessing Dakota Johnson in something new was a treat. The girl gets a lot of shit for having starred in Fifty Shades of Grey, but if you think about it, she did something right as that franchise did catapult her to stardom. She is literally in every single scene here, stealing them all with her soothing presence. I also appreciated Tracee Ellis Ross’s performance. For some reason she always rubbed me the wrong way, but I have to admit that she really embodied the role and knocked it out of the park.

Of course, the music was another reason why this movie was what it was. As far as I know the songs were all originals and each actor sang on their own. I’m still humming along to that final number!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥