“ODE TO COUNTRY MUSIC FALLS A LITTLE FLAT”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
THE NEON HIGHWAY is a quiet ode to pursuing the country music dream. It has some positive themes. For example, it extols selflessness, helping people in need and taking care of one’s family. It also promotes integrity and opposes the greed often found in the music business. The movie has a standout performance from the talented Beau Bridges as the washed-up country star. However, THE NEON HIGHWAY is held back by some cliches and contains unnecessarily strong obscenities and lots of drinking. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.
CONTENT:
Light moral worldview about helping those in need and being selfless, and man wants to support his family and doesn’t buy into the greed of the music industry;
14 obscenities (including two “f” words);
The events of a car crash are central to the plot, but there is no graphic blood or gore accompanied with the accident, plus several scenes take place in a hospital;
No sex;
No nudity; Alcohol Use/Abuse: There are many scenes with drinking, and it’s assumed one character is a struggling alcoholic, plus many scenes take place in bars;
No smoking or drugs;
Greed, but rebuked.
MORE DETAIL:
THE NEON HIGHWAY is a musical drama, now streaming on Netflix, about a struggling country music singer-songwriter who teams up with a once-famous country star to take one last shot at success. THE NEON HIGHWAY subtly delivers positive themes promoting selflessness, helping people in need, supporting one’s family, and integrity, with a strong performance by Beau Bridges, but it’s marred by some unnecessarily strong obscenities, including two “f” words, lots of drinking, and lack of direction.
In Nashville, a young Wayne Collins and his brother, Lloyd, are pursuing their dream of becoming country stars. At first, it looks like their new hit “The Neon Highway” could be their big break into the industry. However, when a record company approaches Wayne about a deal, they want to leave Lloyd out. Wayne and Lloyd argue about whether or not Wayne should take the deal anyway. Their conversation is cut short by a life-altering car accident.
Fast forward 20 years later. Wayne is struggling to support himself and his family. Although he’s is just trying to make ends meet, his dream of becoming a country singer is still alive.
New hope is breathed into his dream when Claude Allen, a once famous country star, overhears Wayne’s song, “The Neon Highway.” The two join in a partnership but are quickly met with obstacles from a greedy industry who don’t share the same moral integrity as Wayne and Claude.
Will Wayne finally achieve his dream and be able to support his family with the help of Claude?
THE NEON HIGHWAY is a simple story about the underdog, standing up for what you believe is right and having a selfless attitude in an industry full of greed. These positive elements, while they are certainly present throughout the movie, fail to provide much depth to any of the characters.
The performance from Beau Bridges is a bright spot in THE NEON HIGHWAY. Sadly, the rest of the characters and the movie’s simple plot don’t delve too deeply into any one moral or theme, and the writers seem content to tell a lower stakes story.
Ultimately, the attempt at subtlety hurts the movie. Consequently, there’s little to hold on to as a viewer aside from the general underdog story of Wayne Collins and Claude Allen. This, in addition to some unnecessary foul language, including two “f” words, and lots of drinking, makes THE NEON HIGHWAY fall a little flat.
MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.