When singer-songwriter Wayne meets washed-up country music legend Claude, the two head back to Nashville for a second chance.
REVIEW:
Beau Bridges wants to upstage the success of old brother Jeff’s Oscar winning success from Crazy Heart, where he played a fading country music star trying to make a comeback. Beau plays the same kind of character in The Neon Highway, just more out of touch with how the music industry has changed. Beau has the fine gravely and weary voice, perfect for the role. He can play a fairly decent guitar and bluff his way through the country music particulars. He’s totally convincing in the part. What he can’t and won’t get is the Academy recognition, since this little gem was dumped unceremoniously onto Netflix.
Beau’s character Claude Allen is a legend retired not by choice. He’s burned too many bridges. His path crosses with Wayne Collins (Rob Mayes), a singer songwriter who gave up his dreams of stardom after a tragic accident involving his older brother and musical partner Lloyd (T.J. Power). Later, financial difficulties prompt Wayne to try again. Claude likes the title song they wrote and wants to use it as a hit that will revive his career. The two set out to Nashville to pursue their revived dreams, hoping Claude’s connections will bring some success.
If this had become some twisted tragedy like Midnight Cowboy, The Neon Highway might have had a chance at some slight recognition for Bridges and Mayes performance. Unfortunately, it stumbles over every cliché of the genre: the exploitation, the naïveté, pulling all the pathos strings.
Bridges brings shade to his character. I never knew whether Claude wants to help Collins succeed or if he’s just looking out for himself. It’s a crafty cagey performance- charming and deceitful in turns. It’s matched by Mayes more straightforward, sincere and vulnerable performance. I could see how Collins could be taken in by Claude.
Appearances by other country stars- Lee Brice and Pam Tillis- give The Neon Highway some plausible deniability. The title tune is a crowd pleasing, heartfelt, toetapper that can take plenty of emotionally rendering versions. The Nashville locations give it further authenticity. Too bad the film stumbles in the end pulling out all the usual emotionally uplifting heartstrings. Still, it’s good enough to resonate with the broken dreams of many aspiring country karaoke fans.
The Neon Highway gets a 3.0/5 or a B. It’s streaming on Netflix.
CREDITS:
Directed by
William Wages
Written by
- Phillip Rob Bellury
- William Wages
Produced by
Starring
- Rob Mayes
- Beau Bridges
- Sam Hennings
- T.J. Power
- Lee Brice
- Pam Tillis
- Jennifer Bowles
- Sandra Lee-Oian Thomas
- Wilbur T. Fitzgerald
- Brett Gentile
Cinematography
Paul Krumper
Edited by
Cindy Parisotto
Music by
Production
company
Mountain Movies
Distributed by
Sessions Production Payroll
Release dates
- February 27, 2024(Plex)
- March 13, 2024(Nashville)
- March 15, 2024(United States)
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$3 million[1]
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