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Review: Country Strong

Pretty weak
By BRETT MICHEL  |  February 24, 2011
0.5 0.5 Stars

 

Too-soon-out-of-rehab country star Kelly Canter (a bronzed Gwyneth Paltrow) attempts to twang her way back from a drunken stage dive in Dallas that resulted in a miscarriage. How fitting that this film, written and directed by in-over-her-head Shana Feste (The Greatest), ends up dead on arrival. Kelly's manager/husband, James (real country star Tim McGraw, not singing in this case), has thrust her into a comeback tour that's set to finish up back in Dallas. Great idea, Jimmy! This genius also agrees to let his wife's rehab "sponsor" — Beau Hutton (Tron: Legacy's Garrett Hedlund), a conveniently talented singer whose duties may range from applying her spray-on tan to sleeping with her — appear as her warm-up act. Also opening is James's discovery, "Country Barbie" Chiles Stanton (Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester). A bizarre cut that finds Kelly and Beau riding a freight train just adds to the sensation that we're witnessing a film career off its rails.

Related: Review: Shutter Island, Review: A Matter Of Size, Review: Anton Chekhov's The Duel, More more >
  Topics: Reviews , Country Music, Dallas, Gwyneth Paltrow,  More more >
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