Honeysuckle Rose (1980)

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Buck Bonham (Willie Nelson) is a traveling country singer with his band. His marriage to Viv (Dyan Cannon) has its hurdles. When his longtime guitar player Garland Ramsey (Slim Pickens) retires, he is replaced by his daughter Lily (Amy Irving). To the dismay of most, Buck starts an affair with Lily.There is nothing that dramatic. It's a romantic melodrama dressed up in country singing robes. I don't know how Amy Irving won the 1st Golden Raspberry for the Worst Supporting Actress. I don't expect much praise but she's not actually bad. That's how I feel about the movie in general. The music is fine country. Willie Nelson lends a reality to his character. There is a general cinema verite feel with the concerts. This is a fine country western song in movie form.

I loved this movie and finally was able to get a VHS tape on the internet after trying video catalogs for years. I have listened to the soundtrack when I'm busy, and it still gets to me. I can believe the storyline about the mutual attraction between Willie and his "temporary" singer. The climactic scenes were hilarious. I liked this movie so well that I also bought "Songwriter". I guess I'm going through a Willie Nelson period, but I have enjoyed him in all of his movies, starting with his short bit in "Electric Horseman", where I first noticed him. I had never heard his music until after I "discovered" him in "Electric Horseman". If I have any complaint about his music, it is that "On the Road Again" is way too short. I think that,as an actor, he grows on you and continues to get better each time, much like Chuck Norris did.

Willie's acting ability in 1980 left much to be desired. The music, however, was great! Willie and Dyan Cannon's duet (Loving You is the Easiest Thing I'll Ever Do Again) was outstanding...deserving, alone, the "9" that I gave this movie.

I liked the movie, although I don't care a thing for Willie or his music. His band members did a good job as actors, and Slim Pickens was great as the booze swilling guitar player. The scene near the end where Pickens tried to kill Nelson was hilarious. The story never got real emotional nor did it drag around too much, so I considered it good enough.