Toby Keith, the country music superstar who makes his acting debut in “Broken Bridges,” shows tremendous screen presence as Bo Price, an ex-substance-abusing country music singer going back to his hometown after family tragedy strikes both him and high school lover Angela Delton (Kelly Preston). He’s catching up with his past too; Angela is the mother of his 16-year-old daughter, Dixie Leigh Delton (Lindsey Haun), who hasn’t been a part of Bo’s life.
As Bo, Keith radiates the effortless rough-hewn charm that two of his co-stars here–Willie Nelson and Burt Reynolds (as Angela’s dad)–always had in their prime. But the movie itself is a disappointment, a so-so journey back into country roots and family turmoil that offers nothing new, seems a little nervous and doesn’t really get going until Keith, Nelson, Haun and BeBe Winans all get on stage for a little music. Too little music, as it happens–but greatly welcome when it arrives.
Director Steven Goldmann is a much-awarded country music video helmer. But the qualities you need to direct effective videos aren’t necessarily the ones you need for this kind of human, character-oriented story. “Broken Bridges” takes too many shortcuts and hits too many obvious notes–despite a good cast that also includes Tess Harper as Angela’s mom.
Keith–a consistent hit-maker who wrote the controversial 9/11 song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”–has a future in movies if he wants it. Hopefully, they’ll be better than this.
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Opens Friday. MPAA rating PG-13 (for some violent and sexual content and teen drinking).
