Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene comes the story of Grace Davis, a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights. Maggie is Grace’s overworked personal assistant who’s stuck running errands, but still aspires to her childhood dream of becoming a music producer. When Grace’s manager 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.
The High Note is a pleasant but formulaic music-industry drama that hits familiar beats: the aspiring underdog, the diva mentor, the hidden-talent twist, and the predictable romance. The plot is serviceable but recycled from countless showbiz stories, with a mid-film twist that feels contrived rather than genuinely surprising. Acting elevates the material — Tracee Ellis Ross brings charisma and warmth to Grace Davis, and Dakota Johnson is likable if underwritten. Cinematography is competent and glossy, capturing the LA music world adequately without any distinctive visual signature. Novelty is low; the film adds little new to the genre beyond Ross's performance. The ending is reasonably satisfying and ties threads together, though it resolves neatly and without much earned weight.