In the old days of the studio system a man like George Strait would have been given a Hollywood contract and put into westerns. That's how it worked for a number of people on the country circuit, most prominently Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. But westerns aren't being done, certainly none for singing cowboys. In a few years George Strait would have handled dialog like a veteran.
Strait's a likable enough guy, but as an actor he's a great country singer. Still he passes muster in a role that's not too taxing, playing a country singer who takes an unscheduled hiatus from his tour and finds true love with a young woman who is the daughter of struggling rancher Rory Calhoun.
Strait's not happy with the way his career is going. It's all about the glitz and glamor of the concert, no one's listening to him sing any more. So he ditches the long hair in a ponytail and beard and just leaves. Manager Lesley Ann Warren seeing all kinds of tour dates canceled with the loss in money, shoves one of the roadies and would be country singer himself and her special boy toy Kyle Chandler in front of the microphone to complete the tour. In the darkened smoke filled concerts with a tape going of the real Strait no one can tell the difference.
In the meantime Strait's falling for Isabel Glasser and gets involved with her family ranch and their real struggles in real life. I think you get some idea where this is going.
This film was the farewell big screen performance of Rory Calhoun and I have to say, I had to look twice even though I saw his name in the credits when I realized he was playing Isabel Glasser's father. He looked terrible, like he had gone through some bad health issues.
For country fans you'll have a full soundtrack of George Strait's hits and he's a great singer. It's the main asset of Pure Country.
