Broken Bridges

While the teens have their cinematic representation with the many coming of age flicks around those of us that have a few more decades under our belts can look, unfortunately, to the life is winding down dramas. We have all seen these flicks, the ones where a successful person is forced to look back on the mistakes of their lives. If the protagonist is female the movie usually winds up on Lifetime’s Sunday afternoon schedule. This genre is a little more difficult for male characters. It’s not like Spike TV will place an emotional film between dirt bike racing and old Bond flicks. Still, there is a place for such a film and ‘Broken Bridges’ is one of this often overlooked genre.

The film starts with a down note. A helicopter crashes killing a young man who was in it. He was a soldier preparing for combat duty over seas. He hadn’t even gotten a chance to see action before his life was cut short. The soldier is survived by his older sibling, his brother, Bo Price (Toby Keith). Also killed in the crash is the brother of Angela Delton (Kelly Preston), the former flame of Bo. The two have been away from their home town in Tennessee for many years but now return for the funerals. Accompanying Angela is the daughter she had with Bo sixteen years ago, Dixie Leigh (Lindsey Haun). Bo has never met his daughter before. He left town around the time she was born to start on what would be a career as a country music singer. Now, his career is on the decline and Bo not only has to face is waning popularity but the concept of fatherhood as well. Like something from VH1’s ‘Behind the Music’ Bo had tossed away much of his potential through the abuse of alcohol. For Angela the years have been rough. Pregnant at seventeen she was left to raise Dixie Leigh mostly on her own after Bo left town just before her birth. Upon her return Angela finds her father Jake (Burt Reynolds) is still resentful of her leaving town. He feels that she left him and her brother behind not bothering to look back. Angela works in the big city, Miami, as a notable TV news reporter. She plans on doing a story about the grief of a small American town. Her personal grief appears to be hidden by the way she barks out directions to her camera crew demanding they get the old men in the background just right. Back with Bo we learn that he has just quit drinking only to find his sobriety challenged by old feelings for Angela and the first meeting with their daughter. There must be something in the genes because Dixie Leigh wants to embark on a singing career of her own. Mom naturally has a great deal of trepidation with this choice since it was country music that took Bo away so many years ago. Music eventually becomes a means for father and daughter to mend a few fences and begin to bond.

Reconciliations are par for the course in a flick like this but it seems that everybody has something they need forgiven. All that was needed was for Doctor Phil to blow into town and help everybody find some closure. While the narrative has heart to it the plot falls into a common trap. Every moment is telegraphed well in advance; it is just too predictable to hold together fully. We’ve all seen this tale too many times in the past. He is on his way down professionally; she is on the way up. Old wounds are forced open and the healing comes from needing to be there for the sake of their daughter. On the up side if you are a fan of country western music, particularly of Mr. Keith’s records, then this film will have a lot to offer. It seems that every possible opportunity to song a number is taken. Usually musical guest stars get to share the stage. The title song, ‘Broken Bridges’ sung by Keith and his young co-star Lindsey Haun is very well done and stands on its own musically. There is also a fun number, ‘Uncloudy Day’, featuring Willie Nelson, Toby Keith and BeBe Winans. Many will be able to overlook the cinematic shortcomings just to enjoy the music.

Many singers have tried to transition to acting. Unfortunately for most Kris Kristofferson has set the bar extremely high. Toby Keith gives it a good try but his performance here is far too stiff. He has yet to master the ability to convey the range of emotion required by the role. Hopefully for his sake he can take this as a learning experience. Just because an entertainer can sell out a huge stadium doesn’t necessarily mean he can open a film. His performance is reminiscent of a high school drama student in his first play. Kelly Preston is a versatile and talented actress but doesn’t manage to give her best performance here. She is limited by the predicable script but does try to show the necessary range of emotions. One thing that bothered me was both Preston and Keith are a bit too to have a sixteen year old daughter born when they where around seventeen. Lindsey Haun quite literally steals the show. This petite young actress has amazing talent and range. She is able to transition from the angry, ignored daughter to a hopeful singer with a natural ease. Haun matches her acting ability with her voice. It’s too bad that she didn’t get more than one solo number. Consistent with the genre Dixie Leigh not only wants a singing career she needs an intact family as well. Haun is able to play this role in an empathic fashion that can keep the audience interested.

Paramount Home Video joins forces with CMT, Country Music Television to bring this film to cable and DVD. The video is in 1.78:1 non anamorphic widescreen. The color balance is well done as is the contrast. There are no signs of any transfer artifacts. The Dolby stereo audio holds together but it would have been nice to have the back fill provided by a more robust 5.1 soundtrack. The DVD does have a few extras. There are some backstage scenes of Keith at a concert sponsored by Ford trucks and a little behind the scenes featurette on the making of the film. There is also an introduction to the actors and their characters as well as an additional musical number. For fans of country music and Toby Keith this is definitively a keeper. Its not the strongest flick of the genre but it has its good points.

Posted 01/04/07