Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content.
Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw and Leighton Meester
Directed by Shana Feste (first feature film)
This movie is like a bad version of a good country song. It’s sad, cheesy and predictable…and I like country music.
Country Strong stars Gwyneth Paltrow as country music superstar Kelly Canter, who’s battling alcohol addiction after a recent tragedy that occurred mid-tour. When her manager-husband James (real-life country superstar Tim McGraw) pulls her out of rehab a month early, Kelly attempts a career comeback with a rising young singer-songwriter (Hedlund) and a beauty-queen-turned-singer (Meester). But the concerts, romantic entanglements and old demons threaten to derail them all.
OK first of all Gwyneth Paltrow can sing, but she was a terrible choice for Kelly. She completely fails to convince anyone that she is a country superstar, let alone a country superstar with an alcohol problem. Tim McGraw is OK, but I’m still confused why he never sings (he does sing over the closing credits). Meester and Hedlund both display genuine charm and charisma, but it’s not enough to carry the film.
Honestly the biggest problem with the film is the script. It is all over the place and loaded with one bad cliché after another, like throwing the bottle of alcohol against the wall and plenty of walking away angry scenes. But that’s not even the worst of it. Kelly sings to a sick child in one scene and carries a baby bird around in a box for most of the film. It’s completely ridiculous and unintentionally laughable.
Country Strong is a badly written, poorly directed country music drama that falls down on every conceivable level. “Skip It” and watch Crazy Heart again instead.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This one is rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content. While there is no nudity there is plenty of inappropriate behavior…like stripping down to underwear just for kicks.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: Country Strong is the story of second chances. Kelly is a woman who had it all: a successful career, a loving husband and a baby on the way, but while intoxicated, Kelly falls off the stage and has a miscarriage. As Kelly attempts her comeback, a woman being interviewed outside the concert venue talks about how Kelly has hit rock bottom and makes the statement, “Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to realize what you had.”
Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: As Christians we are all about second chances. We are all about grace. So as we watch Country Strong hopefully we are reminded of the “second chance” stories in the Bible as well as in our own lives.
What’s your favorite second chance story? (Jonah is an amazing story to read together.)
Do you have a second chance story? (Be prepared to share one of your second chance stories.)
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: Isn’t it amazing that God loves to offer us second chances? Isn’t it amazing how much He loves us and how much He forgives us?
Let’s look at one of the best verses in the entire Bible. I John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
He wants to offer you a second chance!
Will you take some time to confess your sin and ask God to forgive you?
