I never had any intention of going to “Country Strong”, but after hearing my friends obsess about the movie for days, I decided to give in and see what was so great. Well, after seeing it, all I can say is that basically Beau Hutton and the soundtrack are the only things that make “Country Strong” worth seeing.
The movie revolves around Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow), a famous country singer that has just gotten out of rehab for alcohol abuse. In rehab she met and had an affair with Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund), an attractive, charming, essentially perfect aspiring country singer/songwriter. Beau and fellow aspiring country singer Chiles Stanton both receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on tour across Texas with Kelly Canter.
The director, Shana Feste, did a really good job at depicting the positive and negative aspects of fame. Paltrow did an excellent job at portraying the troubled, and possibly crazy, personality of Kelly Canter. So good in fact that I, and probably everyone else in the theater, wanted to grab Kelly Canter, shake her, and say “What in the world is wrong with you, you annoying and pathetic person? Stop acting this way.” The character of Kelly Canter coincidentally closely resembles the pop star Britney Spears, whose meltdowns and personal issues were heavily publicized in the media a couple of years ago. If anything Paltrow’s role gives us more understanding and compassion for Spears’ bizarre antics.
By far, my favorite character (along with every other girl in America) is Beau Hutton. Beau basically is the perfect man. He sings and plays the guitar, he will do anything for a woman, and he cares more about love than fame and fortune. Hello, where can I get one? The best scenes in the movie, though, were when Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester) and Beau were singing on stage together. Their natural chemistry radiated off the screen. Meester, who is best known for her character Blair Waldorf in the TV series “Gossip Girl,” actually pleasantly surprised me during the film. She showcased her versatility as a talented actress, as well as proved that she can do much more than perform the role of some snobby girl on television.
Besides allowing us to stare at Beau for nearly two hours, “Country Strong” should pride itself on creating a dynamic and quality soundtrack, consisting of all country songs of course. Paltrow, Hedlund and Meester all prove that they can sing country about as good as most country music artists can today. I even think Meester should consider ditching her failing attempt at becoming a pop star and switch to singing country music. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of country, I feel that people with various tastes in music genres will be able to relate to the songs and understand the deeper meaning within them.
Another thing that redeemed “Country Strong” was its surprising ending. Feste’s bold decision to have a non-traditional ending, which accurately shows what can and does happen to stars, allows the audience to leave the theater with something to think about.
Overall, the movie sends a pretty clear message and provides the audience with insight into the lives and thoughts of music artists. Also, it makes us reexamine the typesof people we look up to, because the “star” the public idolizes might not be as perfect as we think.
Bottom line: It’s not your typical “Hollywood love story” and the movie contains several twists and turns that keep the audience entertained enough to not get bored. But still, “Country Strong” is not anything outstanding or remarkable.
2 out of 4 stars
