Acting-vehicle for real-life country singing star Willie Nelson didn't make much noise at the box-office, not even with his devout fans, and within the film's first half-hour it becomes apparent why: Nelson is basically playing a variation of himself--and not a terribly flattering one--and a star who soils his own character has a tough time being heard. Willie plays a country crooner with a loyal and gorgeous wife (Dyan Cannon, filling the bill nicely), getting the urge to cheat on his spouse with the nubile female musician who just joined his outfit (Amy Irving). The script is full of eye-rolling drama and sentiment, and when it isn't echoing other films (such as "Intermezzo") it's busy parlaying this superstar into a flawed Everyman. Since the other characters are clichéd or poorly-defined, one has little else to do than watch Nelson acting as his own shadow. "On the Road Again" indeed. ** from ****
Review of Honeysuckle Rose
