The extreme character shift and take on what women must do to appear desirable and fun is insulting and uncomfortable. In a later pool scene, multiple characters either stare or comment on her body, which is taken as acceptable and expected by all parties. Madison, in fulfilling her role of fake girlfriend, immediately resorts to the classic “cool girl” tropes of chugging beer, burping, being unrealistically good at darts and cornhole, and housing barbecue ribs to impress Bryce’s friends–all while being perfectly giggly and feminine.
#Stars fell on alabama she and him movie#
Stars Fell on Alabama even pokes fun at Alabama by alluding to the old cliche “Thank God for Mississippi.” While certain details of Southern living in the film may even be accurate, such as the presence of quaint small towns and their penchant for fried food, country music, football, and square dancing, the impression the movie gives is that Alabama, and the American South in general, is a monolith–and not a very flattering one at that. The film also includes married Southern women who are terribly worried about the fate of anyone unfortunate enough to remain unmarried, and say “bless your heart” as a forced refrain. This is neither the first, or the last, caricature of life in the South. The two laugh about how classically Alabama this is, and they shrug and drive off in the insane vehicle. Upon arriving in Alabama, Bryce and Madison immediately discover that the only rental car available to them is a ridiculously large, impossibly lifted red pick up truck. Stars Fell on Alabama comes across as a laundry list of tropes and cliches that are, in their reductiveness, difficult to get past. This is, until the problem of his high school reunion comes up, and Madison agrees to pose as his date for the event. She is introduced as a typical rising Hollywood actress, and Bryce is a single, work-focused agent. When Bryce and Madison are first seen together, it is not clear why Bryce is Madison’s agent, as she seems bored and even embarrassed by his choices in representing her. There is a frenetic montage of girls and drinks which, while establishing exposition, isn’t particularly convincing or endearing.
The opening of Stars Fell on Alabama establishes Bryce Dixon’s lifestyle as a Hollywood bachelor.
This film is not salvaged by his direction, falling short in many narrative areas. Sheich usually works in visual effects production, and has built an impressive resume to that end. The rest of the film sees Bryce rediscovering his small-town roots, and his true feelings and priorities, as he introduces his town and his friends to Madison. When he discovers that he is the only remaining single member of his old friend group, he manages to convince his client, actress Madison Belle ( Ciara Hanna), to attend his upcoming high school reunion with him and pose as his girlfriend. Sheich’s Stars Fell on Alabamatells the story of Bryce Dixon ( James Maslow), a Hollywood film agent who hasn’t been back to his small Alabama hometown in fifteen years.
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