‘Song Sung Blue,’ starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, is corny comfort cinema with bittersweet notes

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If you’re looking for a movie with fantastic music but awkward conversations, look no further than the surprisingly endearing “Song Sung Blue.” It’s a film about a husband and wife who briefly became famous in the 1990s for performing covers of Neil Diamond songs in Milwaukee.

Even if the movie’s premise doesn’t grab you, the music certainly will! Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson perform over a dozen Neil Diamond classics, including “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “I Am…I Said,” and “Holly Holy.” Their characters, Mike and Claire Sardina – known on stage as Lightning & Thunder – also cover “Sweet Caroline,” but they constantly argue about when to play it. Mike wants to save it for the end of their set to highlight his musical hero, while Claire insists on starting with it, remembering a time when not playing it caused a fight to break out among the audience.

As a film buff, I was really intrigued by Craig Brewer’s latest – it’s actually based on a fascinating 2008 documentary called “Song Sung Blue” by Greg Kohs. The original doc is a wonderfully strange indie film that proves life can be even more bizarre than anything you’d see in a movie. Seriously, the story of Mike and Claire is so wild, you wouldn’t believe it if you knew the full extent of it! I mean, their wedding ended with a full-blown concert for a thousand people at the Wisconsin State Fair, and the groomsmen wore tuxedos…on t-shirts! It’s almost too much to take in, even for a movie!

Okay, so both of these movies are fundamentally love stories, even though the remake really speeds things up – they pack fifteen years of marriage into just two! The guy, Mike, is a divorced mechanic who’s been battling alcoholism, and he’s got this kinda tough but secretly sweet relationship with his daughter, Angela. He’s a bit of a local celebrity, too. Then there’s Claire, a single mom to Dayna and Rachel. Mike just shows up in her life, all swagger with a flashy jacket and a big grin. It’s a small town, so things get even weirder because his manager, Dave, also happens to be his dentist! It’s a funny setup, honestly.

This movie is very direct – it both shows and tells the audience everything. For example, if a character makes a joke implying someone deserves a favor, the movie will immediately cut to that favor being done. Every character clearly states their desires, expressing them with the same enthusiastic energy as singing along to a loud chorus.

Mike feels torn, wanting to embody the spirit of Neil Armstrong while still remaining true to himself. Later, Claire desperately tells Rachel she simply wants to experience joy, love, and the freedom to sing. Similarly, when their children have an uncomfortable playdate, the mothers bond over their shared experiences with unreliable parenting, creating a sweet, albeit predictable, moment that highlights the potential consequences if the wrestling duo, Lightning & Thunder, are forced to retire.

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The film, directed by Craig Brewer, is inspired by the true story of a Neil Diamond tribute band, and it needed a lot of charisma, authenticity, and strong singing to pull it off.

The Sardinas duo are supported by Tom (Jim Belushi), a booking agent hoping to land them a show in Las Vegas, and a quirky group of impersonators, including performers channeling Buddy Holly (Michael Imperioli) and James Brown (Mustafa Shakir). Shyaporn Theerakulstit, Chacha Tahng, and Faye Tamasa shine as the owners of a Thai restaurant who warmly welcome the Sardinas family. However, the story often focuses on Anderson as Rachel, who seems the most grounded in reality. The central question becomes: can her parents’ pursuit of fame actually keep them financially stable?

I’d suggest skipping the trailer if you want to be surprised, as it reveals a key plot point. The filmmakers likely included this because audiences expect some conflict – a feel-good story about two small-town performers in sparkly outfits needs a bit of drama to be compelling. Like many music biopics, it follows a typical pattern of success, setback, and comeback. However, “Song Sung Blue” adds a unique layer by showing that Mike and Claire have real limitations. When they were let go from a regular gig, the club owner bluntly explained that, as Neil Diamond impersonators, their potential was defined by the original artist himself.

People might argue that Neil Diamond has written so many songs that newer generations won’t realize he’s behind all their favorites. Watching a movie filled with his hits feels like a pub quiz where the answer is always Neil Diamond – like when you find out he also wrote The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer.” And you almost accept the movie’s far-fetched idea that his band, Lightning & Thunder, will play their biggest concert on the same night Diamond is headlining nearby, even though Milwaukee’s population is only about 1.5 million. It’s a bit of a stretch, but why not?

Putting the story’s twists and turns aside, the band’s biggest opportunity came in 1995 when Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam asked Lightning & Thunder to open for them. (Mike jokingly asks what Pearl Jam even is!) The contrast between their sparkly outfits and the flannel typical of grunge is recreated in the film, but it would be more compelling if it delved into why Pearl Jam, on the verge of huge success, chose to bring them along. Was it admiration for Diamond’s songwriting, recognition of the Sardinas’ talent, or simply a fondness for something unusual?

The peak popularity of Lightning & Thunder coincided with the rise of Generation X, which makes me wonder how much of their fanbase was intentionally ironic. That question, along with the band’s catchy songs, keeps popping into my head. The closest I’ve come to an answer is in a classic “Simpsons” episode from that era, where Homer performs at a cartoon version of Lollapalooza. A punk rocker dismissively calls him “cool,” and when asked if he’s being sarcastic, the kid is completely overwhelmed: “I don’t even know anymore.”

“Song Sung Blue” feels a bit dated, but the actors portraying the Sardinas are genuinely sweet, and Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson capture their naiveté by playing the roles honestly. Only Brewer seems to indulge in silliness, with a comical scene of Mike tripping while singing in his underwear. Jackman convincingly embodies Neil Diamond – the concert performances feel like a high-quality karaoke show – and Hudson shines as Claire, even when her character is simply gazing adoringly at her husband, her sparkling makeup mirroring her starry-eyed expression.

Hudson suggests we can learn from Claire’s optimistic spirit and cheerful voice, especially when things go wrong for Lightning & Thunder. The most powerful moment comes when, instead of crying during a difficult scene, Claire chooses to smile. It’s this unexpected reaction that truly resonates and is surprisingly moving.

I felt so sad for her that I cried. I continued to feel upset even after leaving, but I walked out of the theater with a quiet, thoughtful tune in my head.

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2025-12-24 00:32