The Neon Highway movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The Neon Highway

This drama about two country singers releases on March 15, 2024.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 53 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

When Wayne, a singer, meets washed-up legend Claude Allen, they go to Nashville for a second chance. When the song they pitch gets rejected, Wayne figures out how to release the song publicly, not for himself but for Claude.

The film was directed by William Wages. He cowrote it with Phillip Bellury. The director stated in the press notes the studio sent me, “I caught the filmmaking bug when I was just twelve years old. It happened one day on a bus ride home in Atlanta after buying a copy of American Cinematographer magazine, which was published by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). I read every word of every article and every ad, making up my mind then and there that I wanted to make movies. No one could have guessed, let alone me, that decades later, I would receive the Lifetime Career Achievement Award by – you guessed it – the ASC.”

THINGS I LIKED:

The cast features Beau Bridges, Rob Mayes, TJ Power, Lee Brice, Sam Hennings, Wilbur Fitzgerald, and more.
Is it just me or do you also think Rob Mayes kind of looks like Jason Momoa?
We get to see a cameo performance by Pam Tillis. She won a Grammy Award, two CMA Awards, and hit six Number One Top Ten hits during her career.
The title is intriguing and made me want to know more. As it turns out, it’s the name and lyrics of a song that one of the characters writes.
Beau Bridges’ face on the movie poster definitely caught my attention, which is what made me want to learn more about the film.
The goal of the leading characters in the movie is to get back to Nashville. Have you ever been there? I’ve been there once before and am heading back this summer to speak at a conference! The main street is magical and filled with hope and music.
The Gretsch-model guitar in the movie is a famous one used by many popular country and rock musicians.
The performance scenes in the movie were all recorded live.
The movie wasn’t filmed in Nashville, surprisingly, but in Columbus, Georgia.
We get to hear some good country music.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some of the acting isn’t very good.
The movie is extremely slow-moving. I guess that appropriately represents how the music industry is too.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity
Kids will be bored.
Alcohol
Bar scenes

THEMES:

Don’t give up on your dreams
Integrity in business
Relationships
Passion for music
Reconciliation
Forgiveness

FUNNY LINES:

“This business is a bitter mistress.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)
“Are you serious?” – Wayne Collins (Rob Mayes) “As a train wreck.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)
“Nothing better than an old friend, even the ugly ones.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)

INTERESTING LINES:

“It’s dangerous living on the road.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)
“If it’s in your soul, it don’t go away.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)
“Just what the world needs: another picker.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)
“Don’t matter if it’s any good. It just has to be new.” – Claude Allen (Beau Bridges)