Parents' Guide to A Nashville Wish

Proving the saying that country songs are all the same, this music-infused drama about a teen who dreams of being a country singer offers nothing new. The opening shot sweeps over a field during sunrise, passing over a church steeple and drifting past a picture of a Marine and an American flag before landing on a pan of cornbread being pulled from the oven, all while a George Strait song plays. It feels like a music video, and that's really what A Nashville Wish is: country tropes strung together through music. (Though it must be admitted that they're toe-tappers, since they're mostly covers of hits from the 1980s and '90s—Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, etc.)

And, just like a Stetson or a pair of Ropers, time-honored material can work. But unlike those heartland standards, A Nashville Wish lacks style. Wholesome but rote, the lack of originality is compounded by wooden acting and uninspired dialogue. When classic country stars Lee Greenwood and T. Graham Brown belt one, the film comes alive. But, unfortunately, the newer artists don't bring a sparkle to the familiar tunes.