Cert 12 Stars 3

Freed from the constraints of the Fifty Shades series which showed off all her talents but the acting ones, Dakota Johnson delivers a warm, funny and endearing performance in this glossy and escapist romcom set in the small and incestuous LA music scene.

With uptempo soul songs on the soundtrack it begins as a reasonable cover version of 2006 smash, The Devil Wears Prada, and sees a put-upon and poorly paid personal assistant called Maggie attempting to realise her dreams of producing a new album for the ageing diva she skivvies for.

Johnson gracefully shoulders the film as Maggie with an impressive yet understated comic ability and an easy confidence which suggests playing this sort of role comes easily to her, and there’s no escaping she gives the impression of having a great deal more to give.

But the script isn’t as strong as the one her mother Melanie Griffith had in 1988’s Working Girl. And this may as well have been written back then for all the relevance the internet seems to be in this version of the music biz.

Meanwhile Tracee Ellis Ross, the daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross brings a tremendous swagger as Maggie’s boss. She comes armed with a delightfully earthy laugh, a tremendous singing voice talent, and a great deal of conviction when delivering a speech about the sacrifices necessary for a middle aged black woman to maintain a high profile career.

Former rapper Ice Cube plays her irate manager, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as David Cliff impresses as an aspiring musician and love interest, Bill Pullman has a brief if agreeable appearance as Maggie’s father, and Brit comic Eddie Izzard breezes though in little more than a cameo.

Having made last year’s so-so Emma Thompson comedy Late Night, director Nisha Ganatra keeps everyone singing from the same hymn sheet and provides another serviceable and female-centred piece of light entertainment.