Story_Bored Review of Pure Country 2: The Gift

Pure Country 2: The Gift (2010)

*Spoilers* Riddled with Horrible Character Stereotypes

[2/10 · 17 July 2020]

If I let a child watch this, I'd have to do more explaining than watching. I hadn't seen other reviewers discuss this; the writing in this seemingly innocent film, is flat-out harmful to future generations in its depiction of, and perpetuation of horrible, out-dated stereotypes. I was expecting to enjoy a light-hearted movie about music. I expected (and was ok with) amateur acting, low-budget production, and a cheesy storyline, but the writing was flat-out ignorant. I was very disappointed in how the characters were written. Particularly, the only 'black' character 'Aunt Ella' played by talented actress Jackie Welch, who raises the protagonist 'Bobbie', after her mother dies. Aunt Ella basically plays a 'Mammy' stereotype, whose only purpose in life is to protect and guide Bobbie and eventually sacrifices herself by mysteriously dying of an unexplained 'illness' after Bobby goes out into the real world to find herself, breaking the angels rules along the way. With every rule that Bobby breaks, Ella gets a little closer to death. It is never explained why Ella raises Bobbie, we have no idea her relation to her mother either. We really know nothing of her as a human being. The Asian characters are depicted poorly too and are said to "not have the right look" as a country band. On the plus side, Elam (the main actress) has a great country singing voice and the songs are pleasant-enough. The spirituality in this film is pseudo-newage with no reference to Christ or the scriptures, only a few 'angels' in hard hats. I never saw the first film, but I have absolutely no desire to see it because of how the characters are written. This film was not even worth finishing.