The plot revolves around Richard Bean (Kline), a Broadway star known for his egotism, who experiences a public breakdown and retreats to his hometown. After returning to the family-run theater where he first discovered his talent, he finds his father, the former artistic director, suffering from dementia. The theater, now reduced to a dinner theater serving murder mysteries, is run by his brother (Tenney) and sister-in-law, who is also the town’s mayor. Determined to restore the theater’s former glory, Richard plans to stage a great American classic, with himself as director and star, in an effort to save both the theater and the town.
可惜角色塑造流于表面，过于脸谱化，好人一味善良、坏人纯然邪恶，缺失深度挖掘，难以给人留下深刻印象。
情节老套是这部影片硬伤，观影不久便能猜中后续走向，如同嚼蜡般缺乏惊喜，难以勾起深入探究欲望。
部分情节的发展较为平淡无奇，但整体上并不影响观影感受。
配乐恰到好处地烘托了影片的氛围，让人感受到了强烈的情感共鸣。
观影全程如坐针毡，冗长拖沓、乏味剧情，加上糟糕视觉听觉呈现，既无娱乐价值，更谈不上艺术熏陶。