Soda Springs is the town that Jason Pickett hails from, but some people just aren't happy to see him return after a stretch in prison for vehicular homicide. That includes law enforcement and it includes the husband of his ex-wife who divorced him while he was in the joint.But when this would be country singer whose career was sidelined by the tragedy comes into Victoria Pratt's store it's love at first sight. Turns out the ex-wife's husband was worrying unnecessarily.Soda Springs has a nice story, but the film moves at such snail's pace you will get inpatient for the end. Not the best Hallmark romance out there though there is a nice country music score for the film.

I don't doubt that every day life in a small town in Southwestern Idaho is slow, but that doesn't mean I want to watch a movie of this depicted. The movie was supposed to be about a good man who made a mistake and needed redemption, but there is no indication that he was ever a good man. He had a reputation as a party guy and he tried to cheat on his wife.Having said that, the photography was nice. There aren't too many movies filmed in Idaho. I have always found it strange that Country-Western music almost never comes from "country" areas outside the South. Yet in this picture you see guys making country music, minus the accent. If there really are guys like this making such music in non-Southern places, why don't they make it to Nashville? This part of Idaho is both "country" and "Western." It seems that in real life the lead actor is considerably older than what he was playing. He is in his early 50's. I assumed he was supposed to be in his late 30's in the movie.I got a real kick out of seeing the bad boy played by Michael Bowen. He played the same character in Valley Girl, opposite Nicholas Cage in 1983.There was virtually no religion or God injected into this story. The guy lives in a small town, and one cop mentions church, but you never see anyone going to one. I think the main guy does go back to his jail cell to retrieve his Bible. They clearly decided not to go in that direction.I don't actually blame him for returning to his home town. Where else are you going to go, like his mother said. Home is home, even when you screw up.I don't think he ever apologizes to his wife for anything. If he did, it wasn't memorable.This picture did have redeeming qualities, not enough to save it from the bargain bin at Walmart.What I really needed to see was a little more emotion from people. There is one scene where the main guy breaks down just for a second, but it was cut short. Let it out man! Let's make a movie about real people. Even the strong, silent cowboy types let go once in a while.

Jodi Picoult has written a novel that is eerily similar to the plot of this movie; the crime was different but everything else was pretty much the same. Interesting.Should she have been cited as inspiration or a source for the script? It was OK. Nothing to cry if you missed it, but better than others I have watched.I gave it a 4 for the possible plagiarism, the slow plot, and lack of sincerity for much of the acting.Really? How many more lines do I need?This is crazy to require a line limit. Honestly.

Wonderful movie. Loved the Western scenery and the story of second chances and redemption. Marvelous casting was a treat against a sound track of genuine music. We thoroughly enjoyed Soda Springs. Not a lot of movies command a second or third watching, but this one does. The modern Western still conveys the timeless virtues of hard work and personal sacrifice for others. It feels human and real. Soda Springs unwinds a story without giving it all away upfront. It's the rare movie that successfully manages that unpredictability that makes you reconsider all that went before in a new light. Soda Springs lets the story unfold so that you care about the destination.The cinematography and directing are first rate without being self- conscious or obtrusive.Actors are uniformly excellent and included a couple of personal favorites, Tom Skerritt and Victoria Pratt. Skerritt commands the screen with quiet dialog. Victoria is both approachable and gorgeous in her denim clad small town persona. Star and co-screenwriter Jay Pickett plays the protagonist in a quiet, determined and ultimately winning fashion. Smaller roles feature effective newcomers like Hollis Welsh and established veterans including the perfect Patty McCormack. The Western theme carries over in a soundtrack dosed with some great, fresh Alt Country with a touch of Western Swing. I knew none of the music going in but loved the music and its compliment to the mood and high, lonesome Idaho scenery. Steve Fulton, Mickey and the Motorcars, and Travis Ward & Hillfolk Noir are among those featured.It's easy to see why this was an award winner in film festivals like Breckenridge, Sun Valley and Louisville. Soda Springs is engaging, personal and meaningful. It stuck with me far longer than many big dollar, big star productions. Soda Springs is highly recommended.