Kim Basinger ("L. A. Confidential") made her starring film debut here as Jodie, a small-town Texas gal who's grown dissatisfied with her life with boyfriend Kyle (Jan-Michael Vincent, 'Airwolf'), a factory worker. Jodie is eager to explore the world beyond this little town, but the unambitious, irresponsible Kyle likes nothing more than beer drinking and Hell-raising on Saturday night. Still, he *does* love her enough that he just might be capable of change.
David Greene ("The People Next Door", "Godspell", "Gray Lady Down") directed this slice-of-life comedy-drama with an excellent rural flavor. It's an amiable film that is able to get serious without ever tipping too far into melodrama. Co-authored by Michael Martin Murphey, who also supervised the soundtrack and appears on screen, it's very easy to take. It has some decent laughs and some effective moments.
It gets most of its mileage from the appealing performance by Basinger. Vincent makes his character stubborn but not unlikable. They're supported by an interesting cast including Ted Neeley ("Jesus Christ, Superstar"), Gailard Sartain ("Mississippi Burning"), Michael Parks ('Then Came Bronson'), Sierra Pecheur ("Kalifornia"), Daryl Hannah ("Splash"), who plays Jodies' kid sister, Lewis Van Bergen ("Stir Crazy"), Richard Lineback ("The Ring"), and Richard Moll of 'Night Court' fame. Also making her film debut is country star Tanya Tucker, who both acts and performs on stage, playing a former resident who made good in Hollywood.
This good, if not especially memorable, entertainment does have another thing going for it, a fantastic soundtrack. All in all, it was able to put a smile on my face at the end, even if it doesn't leave a truly lasting impression.
Seven out of 10.
David Greene ("The People Next Door", "Godspell", "Gray Lady Down") directed this slice-of-life comedy-drama with an excellent rural flavor. It's an amiable film that is able to get serious without ever tipping too far into melodrama. Co-authored by Michael Martin Murphey, who also supervised the soundtrack and appears on screen, it's very easy to take. It has some decent laughs and some effective moments.
It gets most of its mileage from the appealing performance by Basinger. Vincent makes his character stubborn but not unlikable. They're supported by an interesting cast including Ted Neeley ("Jesus Christ, Superstar"), Gailard Sartain ("Mississippi Burning"), Michael Parks ('Then Came Bronson'), Sierra Pecheur ("Kalifornia"), Daryl Hannah ("Splash"), who plays Jodies' kid sister, Lewis Van Bergen ("Stir Crazy"), Richard Lineback ("The Ring"), and Richard Moll of 'Night Court' fame. Also making her film debut is country star Tanya Tucker, who both acts and performs on stage, playing a former resident who made good in Hollywood.
This good, if not especially memorable, entertainment does have another thing going for it, a fantastic soundtrack. All in all, it was able to put a smile on my face at the end, even if it doesn't leave a truly lasting impression.
Seven out of 10.