After watching all seven of the current Resident Evil films (as of this writing), I needed some lighter fare. Because it is so much of a 180 from those movies, I was in the mood for a romantic comedy, the cheesier the better. One can call it a cinematic spiritual cleansing, especially since some of the material in those silly action/horror flicks can be damaging to the soul. And I say “silly” only as a judgment, not to comment on their actual content. With this in mind, while scrolling through Netflix, I remembered passing up Stars Fell on Alabama (2021) for a few reasons, some of which I will reveal throughout the review. It is silly in its own way, but I will take it over zombies right now.
The cinematic spiritual cleansing that is Stars Fell on Alabama begins with Bryce Dixon (James Maslow), a successful Hollywood talent agent whose life in Los Angeles revolves around work, expensive cars, and advancing the careers of his clients, particularly rising actress Madison Belle (Ciara Hanna). Bryce has not returned to his hometown of Willow Valley, Alabama, since leaving fifteen years earlier, but his upcoming high school reunion finally draws him back. While talking with old friends Rick Kemnade (Mike Bash), Rachel Kemnade (Lesa Wilson), David Jackson (Johnnie Mack), and Mark Rowan (Justin Clark), Bryce discovers that everyone seems to have married and started families while he remained single. Rather than simply admit this, Bryce lets them believe he is dating Madison. Bearing false witness may be an unnecessarily dramatic description for padding one’s romantic résumé before a reunion, but honesty would certainly have made the weekend easier. Then again, that is true for the majority of these movies. Word quickly spreads through Willow Valley that Bryce is bringing a movie star home, leaving him with the small problem of convincing Madison to participate. She initially refuses, but agrees after learning that the trip would give her an excuse to avoid her rock-star ex-boyfriend, Zane Thomas (Zebedee Row), who wants to resume their relationship. Bryce and Madison fly to Alabama, where he picks up an enormous red truck with monster wheels and begins reacquainting himself with Southern life. He tells Madison that football is part of the local “Holy Trinity” of God, country, and football, though this Catholic will leave the actual Trinity safely at Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Upon reaching Willow Valley, Madison is immediately treated as a celebrity, and Bryce’s friends enthusiastically welcome the supposed couple. Mayor Winton Lott (Andrew Rush), another former classmate, is especially eager to capitalize on Madison’s presence and asks her to judge a Main Street window-decorating contest. Bryce also encounters Winton’s wife, Charlotte Lott (Jaclyn Betham), the former head cheerleader, who temporarily makes Madison jealous by kissing Bryce. Still, Madison proves far more comfortable with Bryce’s hometown than expected, joining his friends for drinks, line dancing, and a late-night break-in at the old high school so everyone can swim in the pool. As the weekend continues, the fake couple begins behaving increasingly like a real one. Bryce sees Madison enjoying a life far removed from Hollywood, while she discovers the friendships and community he left behind. Their growing attraction becomes harder to ignore, particularly when Bryce admits that he has long maintained a professional rule against becoming romantically involved with a client. Complicating matters, Zane unexpectedly arrives in Willow Valley, convinced that Madison still belongs with him. He learns that she is supposedly dating Bryce and announces his intention to win her back. Zane then joins everyone for the town’s annual alumni flag-football game. Bryce’s team struggles against Winton’s undefeated squad, and Bryce is eventually knocked out of the action. Madison volunteers to replace him and proves surprisingly talented, helping to achieve an unexpected victory. Around the same time, Bryce receives news that his efforts have paid off and Madison has landed the major film role she desperately wanted. Professionally, he has succeeded spectacularly, but his return home is making him reconsider whether professional success by itself is worth it. Madison and Bryce continue drawing closer, only for Zane’s presence to force both of them to confront feelings they have been pretending not to have, a situation complicated when Zane kisses Madison. At the reunion itself, Zane takes the stage and performs “Stars Fell on Alabama” with Madison before publicly proposing to her. Madison does not accept, and the spectacle finally pushes Bryce to stop hiding behind the arrangement he created. His original lie about dating Madison comes to light, embarrassing him in front of the classmates he had hoped to impress. Bryce apologizes to them all and admits that the weekend has changed his understanding of success. The laughter, loyalty, friendships, and family life he sees in Willow Valley now seem more valuable than his Ferraris and Hollywood lifestyle. There is a rather Catholic point buried beneath all the romantic-comedy cheese: worldly achievement is not worthless, but it makes a poor substitute for love, community, and discovering what one is actually called to do with one’s life. When Bryce is asked directly whether he and Madison are dating, she comes to the stage and answers that they are, albeit only for two days, since somewhere along the way the pretense became genuine. The Main Street contest is announced, with a Casablanca (1942)-themed display winning, and Bryce and Madison share a kiss echoing the famous film. We then move to the end credits, which feature Bryce and Madison returning to town at some undetermined point in the future with two children.
Having begun the weekend pretending to be a couple because Bryce was afraid of looking unsuccessful, they end Stars Fell on Alabama having actually fallen in love. It is predictable and cheesy, but considerably less likely to damage the soul than watching another horde of zombies devour somebody, which at this point is exactly what was ordered. Indeed, one can argue that it is good for the heart, and speaking of which, there is a famous Southern saying used in the movie along these lines. I almost feel it is too cliché to mention, but for whatever reason, it stood out to me this time: “bless your heart.” In all my extensive travels through the South, I think I have only heard it spoken a handful of times, but every film about the area seemingly has at least one character saying it. It is spoken in almost any emotional state. If you are angry with someone, it can cover either your own annoyance or disarm that person. Most often it is applied to someone who has done something nice or polite, but it can also express sympathy. What it really does, at its best, is convey something of the language of grace. God freely offers His grace, but He also calls for our free response to it. Granted, not everyone who uses this phrase may have God in mind, even if it does have the word “bless” in it. Even so, there is something fittingly Christian about wishing a blessing upon another person. We mere mortals are not the source of blessing, since every blessing ultimately comes from God, but Christians certainly can pray for God’s blessing upon them. Thus, when “bless your heart” is said sincerely, it can be a small expression of charity, a wish that some good come to another person, and perhaps even a reminder of the grace whose ultimate source is the Holy Spirit.
Arguably, the best thing one can say about Stars Fell on Alabama is that it has spirit, though maybe not the kind that would come to mind for a practicing Catholic. The worst is the rendition of the title song. If you want to hear the best version, look up Ella Fitzgerald’s cover, with Louis Armstrong accompanying. I leave it up to your own judgment with this movie.
