What do movies like Muriel’s Wedding, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Mamma Mia! have in common? They’re true crowd-pleasers, filled with jukebox-ready songs and characters that make you laugh—and yes, make you cry. Scoff if you like, but fans return to them again and again, like cozy slippers on a rainy day.
Song Sung Blue is a movie that fits right into that genre, filled with familiar songs (in this case, Neil Diamond), appealing characters put through the ringer, and moments of joy and heartbreak that will have the audience smiling through their tears.
To be clear, this is not a Neil Diamond biopic. Based on a true story, Song Sung Blue follows a pair of tribute entertainers who team up professionally and romantically to form Milwaukee’s favorite Neil Diamond cover band, Lightning & Thunder. Mike (Hugh Jackman) never made it big as a solo artist but has a genuine passion for music. Claire (Kate Hudson) is a single mom struggling to make ends meet who just wants to sing. They have a meet-cute at a state fair show—bookended by sets from a faux “James Brown” and an aging “Buddy Holly”—and immediately, well, lightning and thunder strike.
Mike and Claire are enormously appealing, with a charming earnestness that makes a good night performing at a local bar feel like a huge win. Because you know what? It is. These are people Hollywood often deems unexceptional: he’s a Vietnam vet in recovery; she’s barely keeping her family afloat; they pay hospital bills in cash because they don’t have health insurance. Yet there’s an early scene where they rehearse in a garage with their musician friends that’s so joyously exuberant you want to laugh and applaud right along with them. If everyday joy isn’t movie-worthy, I don’t know what is.
As Lightning & Thunder’s star rises (at one point, they really did open for Pearl Jam in Milwaukee), the universe seems determined to snatch away their happiness, throwing obstacle after obstacle in their path (health crises, a teen pregnancy, drug addiction, and a horrific accident). It’s so much that it almost becomes laughable that some otherwise life-shattering events don’t receive more screen time or explanation. (The timeline is clearly compressed and edited for impact.) But what the movie (and the audience) really wants is redemption for these sweet people. It’s impossible not to root for them.
Hugh Jackman brings the charm and vocal prowess audiences know from The Greatest Showman and his Broadway work. As his partner, Kate Hudson is a delightful surprise. Claire is a meatier role than Hudson has had in years—and wow, I didn’t realize Kate was such a terrific singer. Their chemistry as actors and as singers completely sell the movie.
In these cynical times, it might be tempting to dismiss such a heart-on-its-sleeve film by merely labeling it a “feel-good” movie. But you know what? A story about chasing your dreams, no matter how big or small, is exactly what we all need right now. Even before Song Sung Blue was over, I knew I’d be happy to see it again.
