Sandy Kenyon Review: "Begin Again"

NEW YORK (WABC) -- You might call it a "modern" musical, a romantic comedy where two big-name stars share the stage with a song, and even a real-life rock star.

Friday marks the release of the new film, "Begin Again".

One of the joys of this job is when I get to throw a big spotlight on a small movie that might otherwise get lost, and this new one comes from the same director who made "Once", about a love affair between two musicians.

That one proved good enough to inspire a Broadway show. "Begin Again" is even better.

It is an ode to our city, a love song that strikes a chord so deep, each one of us gets to rediscover the place we call home.

A record executive who's just been fired, played by Mark Ruffalo, gets to "Begin Again", when he finds Keira Knightley's character signing in a bar, and imagines what her record might sound like.

Together they make magic together with the city as their studio. The city is common ground, where the worlds of movies and music can blend together.

CeeLo Green plays a rapper who was discovered by "Dan", and is now happy to return the favor.

Dan's former partner is played by Mos Def. Adam Levine, from "Maroon 5", co-stars as Greta's rocker boyfriend who dumps her.

"It's surreal because I never had the hankering to be an actor," said Levine.

If the guy People Magazine calls "The Sexiest Man Alive" was nervous about acting, then Keira Knightley was terrified at the prospect of singing.

"We basically sang and sang and sang until they stopped wincing." said Knightley.

Both of those stars are being too modest. She is good enough to make her character believable as a singer. Levine plays the ego-centric rock star to perfection. If you take the trouble to find this movie and go see it, you will thank me.