first let me say i be not from the south but i be an american . i do not love country music but i can stomach it . i would never wear a cowboy hat but i wear hat . i do not live in a trailer but i do eat tuna salad and own a home . what do that have to do with this comment . a lot if you be one of those people who say only country people love this movie . this movie be loosely base on the they love and lose premise . james bridge directs an american love story as real a it get . in an era of jerry springer and let put it out there mentality and this film ring truer than ever . bud be come of age and embarks on a life of his own with a little help from his aunt and uncle so he move to the big city with them . bud find himself draw into the local honky tonk world for the only escape a blue collar man can afford . he quickly meet sissy who be from a similar background and the two have a whirlwind romance fill with painful ups and down . ( this plot take so many turn that one have to just sit for a few minute before they get hooked . marriage be a focus here that be often miss . early in the film they marry and we view the transition from be single to marry . the film highlight some of the modern struggle a woman have when she marry an old fashioned man . it also bring into view the male ego with woman and competition . ) bud be challenge and be excite when micky put in an electronic bull . sissy get idea of have fun on it too but be quickly remind that she be married and need to start act like it . the emotion between the two character be raw and expressive and the plot continue from there especially when they ( note this be give some of the storyline away ) split and sissy fall for an ex con with a penchant for abuse and cruelty . she soon realize that the grass be not always greener on the other side . how anyone can compare bud to vinnie barbirino be shock to me . john travolta give an exceptional performance that be worthy recognition . he be believable and real . the scene where he shave his beard and you first see him at the bar . still give me goosebump . mind you i be not a huge travolta fan and but come on and i see why sissy be kick of her boot so early in the film . deb winger be so real that you find yourself sympathize with her a she pen a note of emotion to bud and after sneak in to clean his house during their break up . the support cast be incredible . wes play by scott glenn give a first rate performance that make you hate him and curse him a he abuse sissy . madolyn smith osborne and a buds mistress or girlfriend be so authentic that large chested girl across the u. s. pray to wake up flat chested to wear the clothes she don in the film . my big kudos go to barry corbin and brooke anderson a bud aunt and uncle . they seem like someone aunt and uncle somewhere in texas and however small their role and they make the film so much big and lifelike . two memorable scene be the dolly parton contest and the unforgettable scene where bud and his aunt stand outside after one of the character death . the dialog between them be touch . if you can watch this for what it be and a true american love story . then i recommend that you take it for what it be . a film before it time that give u voyeurism into a world unlike our own but real enough for our enjoyment and entertainment . if this world sound similar to yours then you will enjoy it so much more . lastly and the music however date and be sure to send you back in time if you be over 30 year of age .