Stars Fell on Alabama

Stars Fell on Alabama
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Stars Fell on Alabama is a "culture clash" romcom about a Hollywood agent named Bryce (James Maslow of Big Time Rush fame) who goes back home to Alabama. He is portrayed as someone who "got out" of his small town and is living what seems like a glamorous life; when he decides to go home, he quickly feels the squeeze of old pressures and the need to be impressive. This leads to some mixed messages. Viewers are meant to take away the idea that your friends will like you for who you are, not who you're dating -- but Bryce doesn't experience any negative consequences when he lies to people and they inevitably discover it. Casual infidelity is a recurring situation: Bryce's colleague brags about cheating on his wife and is seen carousing with women. That's supposed to be problematic, but later Bryce is also seen as an active and interested participant in cheating. There's also some innuendo, and scenes show both Bryce's bare chest and female lead Madison Bell's (Ciara Hanna) lingerie-clad tush. While there's no profanity or violence, drinking is portrayed not just as normal but as aspirational. Characters drink in most scenes, and chugging beers and throwing back shots is shown as making a woman more attractive. People also laugh about one of the characters growing marijuana at work.
Community Reviews
Stars rose on Alabama
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Good For The Whole Family
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What's the Story?
In STARS FELL ON ALABAMA, Hollywood talent agent Bryce Dixon (James Maslow) is returning to his small hometown in Alabama to attend his high school reunion. Facing former classmates who equate marriage and kids with success, he convinces his movie starlet client, Madison Bell (Ciara Hanna), to come along and pretend to be his girlfriend.
Is It Any Good?
For romcom fans, this might feel like a knockoff; you may have to remind yourself that it's not Sweet Home Alabama, that Hanna isn't Kate Hudson, and that Maslow isn't Adam Levine. It all looks familiar, but it's not nearly as good as stalwarts of the genre. That said, it's not awful, either. And for some teens, it may feel like an evolution of their childhood, since Hanna and Maslow are both former Nickelodeon stars (she used to be the Yellow Power Ranger, and he was the face of Big Time Rush). Now they're are all grown up, and while the idea of attending a 15-year high school reunion may not be totally relatable to kids, the content of the story mostly feels like the stuff of Nick at Nite. The language is clean, there's no real violence, and even the innuendo is fairly scrubbed. Heck, when everyone sneaks out to skinny dip, most of the underwear seen looks like swimsuits (in fact, one woman somehow does have on a swimsuit -- we can only assume she knew where the evening would end up?).
Nothing is especially original here, but sometimes, a tried-and-true formula works just fine. And for a new generation of romantic comedy viewers, "same old, same old" can feel new. Line dancing scenes have been around since Footloose, but Stars Fell on Alabama's all-country soundtrack is likely to be appreciated by many viewers (though kids may not recognize American Idol 2006 winner Taylor Hicks covering the All-American Rejects' 2008 single "Gives You Hell"). The movie feels targeted at the oldest members of Gen Z and the youngest millennials, but with characters who are familiar high school types, there's just enough here to entertain, whether you live in an urban high-rise or a rural farmhouse.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how drinking is portrayed in the film. Is it glamorized, normalized, or shown to have consequences? How can entertainment media influence our attitudes about things like drinking and substance use?
How does Stars Fell on Alabama depict the differences between big city and small town life? Why are culture clashes a popular scenario for filmmakers to explore? Is telling stories set in less-represented states a form of positive representation?
What would you say is this film's message? Can a movie's message still have impact if a main character succeeds by defying the positive "moral of the story"?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 8, 2021
- Cast: James Maslow, Ciara Hanna, Johnnie Mack
- Director: V.W. Scheich
- Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Friendship, High School
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some suggestive material
- Last updated: January 14, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love romance
Themes & Topics
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