Most people try to jump into the New Year with resolutions to live life better and perform at the highest levels possible. Hollywood starts the New Year with Country Strong. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Kelly Canter - the biggest country music star on the planet, who has been in rehab since a very public meltdown. Her husband and manager, James (Tim McGraw), wants to rush her back out on tour to restart Kelly's career, but a kindly songwriter (who wears too much eye make up) she meets in rehab, Beau (Garrett Hedlund), is worried it is too much too soon. Also, he has been schtupping her (you know, the horizontal mambo, the wacka wacka boomdy boomdy, bumping uglies, getting it on, sex).
Of course, James needs Beau on tour to help keep Kelly on the wagon, and to help Beau's pal, Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester), get over her stage fright, so she can be one of the opening acts. As you can imagine, Chiles and Beau kind of have a thing going, too.
Did Kelly leave rehab too soon?
Can Chiles become the superstar she can be?
Can Beau keep it in his pants?
Country Strong is a series of bad dialogue, stereotypical characters, silly situations and one of the worst endings you will ever see in your entire life. Did writer/director Shana Feste just watch a CMT Insider marathon, put all of the stories and bios into a blender and see what would be spit out?
Feste spends the first half of the movie setting up the obvious . Paltrow is some mix between Faith Hill and Mindy McCready as she equally camps it up with some of the worst "acting drunk" moments in movie history, but also finding other moments to show Kelly's kind heart, difficult life and desire to be normal.
Then, Meester is supposed to be Taylor Swift without the charm and talent. She's in over her head when compared to McGraw, Paltrow and Hedlund, but I will give her credit for having the courage to jump in with both feet and try her best. However, why do I have to listen to her caterwaul throughout the movie and Tim McGraw (one of the biggest music stars on the planet) doesn't even pick up a guitar?
Meanwhile, Hedlund can hold his head high. I'm not saying he's showing himself to be the next Leonardo DiCaprio, especially after we saw him in Tron:Legacy, but Hedlund adds some soul to a character who is on the cusp of fame and fortune, but tries to act like he is too cool for it all. Just as happy playing at the local dive bar as he would be walking on stage at The Grand Ole Opry? Not buying it, but Hedlund has a charm about him that will lead to more roles.
However, Feste's biggest failing in Country Strong is the failure to pick an ending and stick with it. I started to bolt for the door when it looked like the movie was finally over, but she went for two more resolutions that weren't needed.
At one point, it looks like the movie has ended in an acceptable way that leaves a bit of mystery to what happens to our characters, which would have been kind of cool, but Feste can't stop there and ruins the movie with a shocking ending that completely changes the mood and leaves the audience upset.
Then, probably after some test screenings left audiences ready to revolt at the previous ending, Feste tries to tack on something a little cheerier. However, you won't be cheering, especially if her decision to keep the movie going and going has challenged your patience and bladder (I had a large White Cherry Icee that didn't need two more endings).
Country Strong isn't even Polka Passable (Yes, I can hear you groaning at that).
1 Waffle (Out of 4)
Country Strong is rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content.
Country Strong is a series of bad dialogue, stereotypical characters, silly situations and one of the worst endings you will ever see in your entire life. Did writer/director Shana Feste just watch a CMT Insider marathon, put all of the stories and bios into a blender and see what would be spit out?
Feste spends the first half of the movie setting up the obvious . Paltrow is some mix between Faith Hill and Mindy McCready as she equally camps it up with some of the worst "acting drunk" moments in movie history, but also finding other moments to show Kelly's kind heart, difficult life and desire to be normal.
Then, Meester is supposed to be Taylor Swift without the charm and talent. She's in over her head when compared to McGraw, Paltrow and Hedlund, but I will give her credit for having the courage to jump in with both feet and try her best. However, why do I have to listen to her caterwaul throughout the movie and Tim McGraw (one of the biggest music stars on the planet) doesn't even pick up a guitar?
Meanwhile, Hedlund can hold his head high. I'm not saying he's showing himself to be the next Leonardo DiCaprio, especially after we saw him in Tron:Legacy, but Hedlund adds some soul to a character who is on the cusp of fame and fortune, but tries to act like he is too cool for it all. Just as happy playing at the local dive bar as he would be walking on stage at The Grand Ole Opry? Not buying it, but Hedlund has a charm about him that will lead to more roles.
However, Feste's biggest failing in Country Strong is the failure to pick an ending and stick with it. I started to bolt for the door when it looked like the movie was finally over, but she went for two more resolutions that weren't needed.
At one point, it looks like the movie has ended in an acceptable way that leaves a bit of mystery to what happens to our characters, which would have been kind of cool, but Feste can't stop there and ruins the movie with a shocking ending that completely changes the mood and leaves the audience upset.
Then, probably after some test screenings left audiences ready to revolt at the previous ending, Feste tries to tack on something a little cheerier. However, you won't be cheering, especially if her decision to keep the movie going and going has challenged your patience and bladder (I had a large White Cherry Icee that didn't need two more endings).
Country Strong isn't even Polka Passable (Yes, I can hear you groaning at that).
1 Waffle (Out of 4)
Country Strong is rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content.
