“The Neon Highway” puts Beau Bridges in the spotlight By Francine Brokaw

Category: Movies

Country music is at the heart The Neon Highway, starring Beau Bridges and Rob Mayes. Will one great song make a new singer/songwriter’s career and revise the old career of a country legend, or will it be the end for both of them?

Wayne Collins (Mayes) is a singer/songwriter along with his partner/brother Lloyd (T.J. Power), but on the night that might change their careers something happens that actually does change their careers and their lives. In an instant a car crash puts them both on a different trajectory. 

Claude Allen (Bridges) is a legend in the industry, but hasn’t had a hit or even a concert in years. He’s a drunken insolent man. When Wayne comes to his house to install some cables, things change for both of them. Wayne is surprised to be in the company of a legend and when asked by Allen to sing a song, Wayne hesitates but performs the song he wrote that could have launched his career seven years ago, before the tragedy. 

Soon Claude makes a business arrangement with Wayne, who proposes he will record the song, make all the arrangements, and split the profits 50-50 with Wayne. Wayne is down on his luck and desperately needs money and Claude desperately needs a good song to put him back on top. This could be the answer for both of them.

So off they go to Nashville. Claude calls in all his favors from the past, but he quickly learns things, and the business itself, have changed. While his name does open doors, there are still hoops to jump through, unlike the past. But he’s obstinate and tenacious. He keeps plugging away at all the prospects with Wayne getting more and more disappointed. But the duo have a mutual respect for each other and they continue to bombard Nashville with their propositions. And, the song, “The Neon Highway” does happen to be a great song. So with the two working hard and pounding the pavement to broker a deal, they come to respect each other more and more, even with all the setbacks.

Things go from bad to worse. Wayne is desperate to get a deal. He really needs the money for his family. And Claude is desperate to prove he still has what it takes. 

The ending is something interesting for viewers. Wayne proves that he has brains as well as talent and with that he takes a chance that could mean triumph or tragedy. It’s Nashville after all, so anything could happen. It’s interesting to see Wayne going the distance to help the old-codger fulfill his dream. 

Beau Bridges comes from an acting family, with his father Lloyd being an iconic star. His brother Jeff and son Jordan combine to make the Bridges legacy continue in the business. Having won accolades on both the big and small screen, Beau has a filmography that dates back many decades. At 82 he is still proving he has what it takes to lead a film.

While the story takes place in Nashville, the movie was actually filmed in Georgia. 

The Neon Highway hits theaters March 15, 2024. It is rated PG.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.