Pure Country

Country music superstar George Strait makes his acting debut in an extended music video held together by a formulaic plot that harkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood: Strait portrays -- what else -- a well-known C&W star who is weary of the Also Sprach Zarathustra, Elvis-meets-Cosmic Cowboy persona that his high-strung, vixen-in-a-leather-miniskirt manager (Warren) demands of him. Finally fed up with the nightly grind of pyrotechnics and smoke machines, Strait decides to hitchhike out of the high life and back to his cultural roots in -- where else -- rural Texas. Once home, Strait alters his easily-recognized, rhinestone cowboy look for good-ole boy anonymity, and manages to convince a rancher's daughter (Glasser) to allow him to live at her family's ranch in order to relearn the basics of ropin', ridin', cowpatties -- and pure, true love (so pure that despite electricity at first sight between the two, they never share their first kiss until the final scene of the film). But the glitter and flash of stardom won't let go easily as Strait's manager schemes to lasso him back into the showbiz corral in time to meet a performance date at the Las Vegas Rodeo. As expected, Strait is unable to extend his acting range beyond that of Roy Roger's well-preserved Trigger, which lends some scenes a sense of pregnant awkwardness. However, it is as a musician and singer that Strait's performance strength really shines, and fortunately there is a healthy showcase of his new music in the film which provides a measure of worthwhile entertainment -- especially if you are a die-hard country music/George Strait fan. If that's the case, then Pure Country could be Happy Trails for you.