Broken Bridges

Country Music superstar Toby Keith made his motion picture acting debut in the CMT movie “Broken Bridges.” Keith played Bo Price, a country music singer whose fame and glory was taken away by alcoholism. While watching a news broadcast at a bar, Price finds out that his military younger brother was killed during helicopter practice maneuvers. As a result, he returns to his small town home for the funeral. Also coming home for the memorial is Price’s old flame, Angela Delton, played by “Sky High” star, Kelly Preston. Her younger brother was also killed during the military exercise, so she returns home with her rebellious 16 year old daughter, Dixie, who is also Price’s daughter played by “Color of Friendship” star, Lindsay Haun. Price finally catches up with Angela and meets his daughter for the first time. In the meantime, Angela’s reunion with her estranged father, portrayed by Burt Reynolds, is met with contempt for leaving her home with her unborn child.

“Broken Bridges” is an emotionally sweet story that shows how each character deals with their severed and troubled relationships and how they build their bridges to fix them.

For Price and his daughter, it’s their common love of music that helped develop their relationship. For Angela and Price, it’s the history they shared that brings them closer. For Angela and her daughter, it’s spending the time together without interruptions from her demanding job as a television reporter and her demanding boyfriend who is also general manager of the station that they start to bond. For Angela and her father, its a combination of Angela’s father getting to know his granddaughter and Angela’s mother, played by “Tender Mercies” star Tess Harper, getting a stroke that brings a father and daughter together.

Even though the film ended in a pretty predictable package, it was the getting there that was so enjoyable to watch. The story was fresh and original, and it was interesting to see how the different circumstances intertwined with one another. At first it was very hard to get attached to the characters because the emotional outpour wasn’t there. However, as the movie progressed so did the affection and involvement you would have with these character, so much that the ending would just tug at your heartstrings. Keep in mind, this is a PG-13 movie, so there is some profanity in it, but not so much that it takes away the charm of the story.

The biggest curiosity was Keith’s ability to act and to carry a movie lead. As far as his acting ability, Keith’s role wasn’t really much of a stretch to what he is already except for the alcoholism, but when it came to interacting with Preston, Haun, or Reynolds; he held his own pretty good. As for carrying lead, I would say he shouldn’t have been singled out in the opening credits. Every role was equally important to the success of the story.

What was especially nice about the movie was how God played an intricate part of these characters lives and in the movie. “Amen”’s Anna Maria Horsford played the friend of the family, Loretta, who is also a strong woman of faith. Since Angela left the small town scene, Loretta has been the leaning post for Angela’s mother and the family and when Angela returns home, she becomes one for her as well, along with giving life lessons to her daughter, Dixie. She was the person everyone can count on and talk to.

As for the message of the film, Keith’s character, Price sums it up in the end. To paraphrase, he said that the Lord works in mysterious ways and that no matter what it is you’re going through; God always has something good in store for you even though you can’t see it right away. Your time is not necessarily His time. All in all, “Broken Bridges” is heart-warming film with a terrific cast, great music, and a very good story. On a grading scale, I give “Broken Bridges” a B+.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Negative
• Young people