Does Gwyneth Paltrow convince as a Nashville star in Country Strong?

Gwynnie takes inspiration from Britney in her new movie about a country singer taken out of rehab to stage a comeback tour
Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong
No country for old men ... Gwyneth Paltrow as Kelly Canter in Country Strong PR

Since its December 2010 US release, the film Country Strong (yes, that's not a typo) has given us so much. So far, we've had Gwyneth Paltrow singing at the Country Music awards, Gwyneth Paltrow singing at the Grammys, Gwyneth Paltrow singing at the Oscars and, er, Gwyneth Paltrow singing on Glee. Having seen the film, it's clear why the Oscar-winning actress decided to take the role as famous but damaged country star, Kelly Canter, and it wasn't to help her acting career. A preachy, heavy-handed morality tale about fame and love, Country Strong is rubbish – but it does have something to say about music and not just that Paltrow really wants a record deal (perhaps husband Chris Martin's bezzie mate Jay-Z could hook her up?).

The film opens in a dusty, smalltown bar where a fresh-faced young man called Beau Hutton (played by Garrett Hedlund) is crooning his way through a whiskey-soaked country ballad. The audience is small but appreciative and Hutton seems content to sing his songs, lift his stetson and head off to work in a rehabilitation facility where he "cares for" (and is secretly sleeping with) Kelly Canter (Paltrow). Canter's evil svengali husband, James (we know he's evil because of his awful hairpiece) takes her out of rehab too soon and then books her on a comeback tour with rising young starlet and former beauty pageant winner, Chiles Stanton (played by Leighton Meester).

Canter agrees, but only if Hutton can come along too.

This all happens within the first 10 minutes, setting up a fairly typical story of jealousy, cancelled shows and slide guitar. It also displays at its core an obvious divide within country music itself. Hutton – fond of check shirts and with the makings of a grizzly beard – represents "real" country music. He cares not for the fame or money and initially turns down the tour offer in favour of simply being able to play to people who will actually listen, ie two old men and a dog. On the road, he mocks Stanton's attempts at songwriting (he remarks that her song titles sound like "Disney rides") and refers to her as "country Barbie" (which she takes as a compliment).

The film positions Stanton as the representation of "new country", ie huge-selling artists such as Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood (in fact, Stanton is named the "new Carrie Underwood" in a magazine article). Elsewhere, Hutton dismisses her music as "country pop", saying it's meaningless and that she's too good for it.

The whole thing is complicated further by the fact that Paltrow is made to look just like Taylor Swift in the final performance scene, her normally straight hair curled, guitar hanging over a pretty red dress and cowboy boots.

So, what is it saying? That country and pop music can't mix? That if you do let the unseemly whiff of pop mix with the earthy tones of country it can only lead to alcoholism and unhappiness? In an interview with the LA Times, director Shana Feste claimed the inspiration for Paltrow's character came from seeing what happened to Britney Spears during her infamous meltdown. If this is the case, then who does that make Meester in the Stanton role? Ke$ha? Is Feste trying to warn Ke$ha against turning into the next Britney? Is this an intervention in celluloid form? In the end, Stanton/Ke$ha does give up on her dreams of stardom in favour of finding Hutton, who she is now in love with and who has returned to the quiet life to make music for himself. In the battle of Real Country v Country Pop, Real Country wins by a landslide. It's the same message essayed in Crazy Heart, in which Jeff Bridges portrays a Waylon Jennings figure, although that film is far less heavy-handed in its treatment of the slick Nashville superstar, Tommy Sweet (even if you have to stomach Colin Farrell in the role).

As for Kelly Canter/Britney Spears? Well, let's just say Spears should probably give the film a miss – things do not end well.