Sometimes all you need is for someone to believe in you and give you a second chance. What you do with that opportunity can help define your life. That’s the moral at the heart of The Accidental Texan, a new film that opens in limited release and on VOD this Friday.

The film centers on Erwin (Rudy Pankow), a young actor who travels from Hollywood to New Orleans for his big break. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t go his way. After a disastrous first day, he’s fired. On the journey home, his car breaks down just outside a small Texas town. Erwin is spinning out.

But in that crisis comes an opportunity. He stumbles into a diner and there meets Merle (Thomas Haden Church), a driller who has hit his own rough patch. Merle has a month to save his business and needs a big break to get there. He’s also dealing with his own past tragedy that weighs on his heart.

Together, Merle and Erwin find a kindred spirit in each other and soon are able to merge their skills to find a new way forward. It might also be the key to healing the pain and loss of the past for both of them as they create a better future.

This film is based on the novel Chocolate Lizards from Cole Thompson with a script from Julie B. Denny. It’s a simple story and it’s not hard to guess where the plot is going, but it’s the depth of characters—the relationship between Merle and Erwin—that really keeps you grounded and engaged.

That’s also a credit to Pankow and Church, who play well off each other. They seem to be having fun and by extension it’s fun for the audience. I also enjoyed the rest of the cast, which includes Carrie Anne Moss and Bruce Dern, among others. There are some fun sequences but it’s mixed with a plucky story that has plenty of heart.

Director Mark Lambert Bristol—working on his first feature film since 1999—does a nice job bringing this story to life. I enjoyed the way it was shot and the way he pulls the performances together to create a story that’s a fun journey.

This little film opens in limited release March 8 and drops on VOD. It’s worth checking out for the performances and the heart-warming story.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.