Country Strong

“Country Strong” stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester and Tim McGraw in this tale of a country singer on her comeback road after rehab and personal loss. Ms. Paltrow plays the singer without the aid of either a decent script or a singing voice. Written and directed by Shana Feste, the ultimate responsibility for this trite and formula type film must fall upon her shoulders. Mr. McGraw adds to the loss by simply staring into the camera half of the film lke a deer might do into the headlights of an oncoming car exceot that, in the deer’s case, we really care. There are, however, 3 redeeming qualities and benefits to the film. The first is the presence of Garrett Hedlund who himself performs the songs that are sung in the movie; the second is Ms. Meester who steals every scene she is in because she is really so talented and pleasing to the eye (and ear, for she too sings) and the third is the music itself.. As a lover of country music, this film offers a wonderful array of new and old country songs delivered in a manner that would make a classic radio station listener enjoy what he or she was hearing. I give this film 2 stars thanks mostly to the music in it and, also, because the non-Paltrow singing performances were pretty good.