Fair to maudlin is country singer Toby Keith's first film. Former high school sweethearts, Bo Price(Keith), a fading country music singer, and Angela Denton(Kelly Preston), a television reporter, return to their small hometown after the deaths of their younger brothers in a military training exercise. Bo and Angela have to deal with the past and the future. The out-of-the-spotlight Price meets his 16-year old daughter Dixie(Lindsey Haun), who is a musician herself...a rock musician. Angela has to deal with her father(Burt Reynolds), who has been out of sorts with her since she left home pregnant. Her mother(Tess Harper)tries to mediate a truce before having a minor stroke. Bo calls on his friends Willie Nelson and BeBe Winans to sing at the memorial service for the five hometown lost soldiers. Dixie is also asked to sing her own song "Broken" and it melts hearts. The future no longer seems so bleak. Also in the movie are: Katie Finneran, Anna Maria, Josh Henderson and Steve Coulter.

I thought the movie was excellent and a great family movie. I thought Toby Keith's acting was pretty good and having veterans in the movie such as Burt Reynolds, Tess Harper and Kelly Preston didn't hurt. Just because the movie wasn't a box office smash don't mean it wasn't a good movie!

Bobby Delton's death in a military exercise brings his family back home. His sister Angela Delton (Kelly Preston) has been estranged since getting pregnant. She returns with her rebellious teen daughter Dixie (Lindsey Haun). Her mother (Tess Harper) tries to stay positive but her father Jake (Burt Reynolds) still holds resentments. Angela is shocked to find Dixie's father, fading country singer Bo Price (Toby Keith), has also returned.

Toby Keith is a stiff actor. I'm trying to accept that for this character. He's a piece of stone stuck in the middle of the screen. Kelly Preston is no great catch either. It's more interesting to see Burt again. The girl shows different sides and out performs everybody else. The music is pretty good and that helps a lot. Otherwise, it's a relatively unimaginative melodrama.