Song Sung Blue
3.5 out of 5 stars

By J.C. Correa

To a lot of people, the music of Neil Diamond feels like it’s sort of been around forever. And even if you’re not the biggest fan of it, even from a distance, it has probably accompanied you throughout most of your life in a warm, unobtrusive way. Which is not to say that, for some, Diamond isn’t the premier singer-songwriter of the past sixty years. That certainly was the case for Mike and Claire Sardina, two singer-impersonators from Wisconsin who went on to form a highly successful Neil Diamond tribute act in the mid ‘90s, all built around the love they had for him and for each other. Their unique story, which was the topic of a 2008 documentary, has now been given a spirited Hollywood treatment.

For Song Sung Blue (named after Diamond’s classic tune from 1972), writer-director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Dolemite Is My Name) has cast Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as the effervescent couple. With an appropriately weathered face, the role of Mike plays to Jackman’s strengths due to his extensive singing experience and showmanship as a musical theater actor, even as he sporadically embraces too much theatricality. Hudson, on the other hand, is more successful. Though having also been an occasional singer on camera, she takes on the part of Claire with convincing aplomb. She serves as the movie’s backbone, and the actress hasn’t been this good or this charming since Almost Famous.

The couple meet at a state fair where he is tasked with impersonating Don Ho, and she, Patsy Cline. Lurking around them is a troupe in the guises of Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. But Mike, a recovering alcoholic, is tired of this particular shtick, and after striking up an engaging conversation with Claire, she suggests they pursue the Neil Diamond avenue as a duo. Mike is a natural fit for Diamond’s songbook – he prefers to think of himself as an “interpreter” – as evidenced by an exuberant and impromptu jam session they engage in at her house. The blossoming romance that permeates through the subtext recalls the dynamic in John Carney’s magnificent 2007 offering Once. It’s not long after that Claire and Mike decide to put a band together to back them up, giving their act the name of “Lightning & Thunder.” Michael Imperioli, of Sopranos fame, is a welcome presence as the group’s guitarist, as is a genuinely funny Jim Belushi in the role of their ebullient manager.

It is important to acknowledge that, though spirited and uplifting (particularly through the joyous, infectious nature of Diamond’s music), the film embraces brutal realities and a lurking darkness that, more often than not, is just part of the human experience. As such, there is a radical tone shift midway through that you won’t see coming. Part of this gives the picture an emotional weight that may not appear to exist at the onset. The end result can at times be trite and over-sentimental, but I’m willing to overlook this because the movie’s overall intentions are solid when trying to convey the idea that music can indeed connect and also heal. 

Of particular note, and something that I found quite compelling, is the fact that this is a story of regular folk. The characters are all blue-collar types who live in the kind of unassuming home where staring up at the constant barrage of planes landing over their heads is a genuine form of entertainment. These are simple, ordinary people who often struggle, and because of this, are more than happy to be big fishes in small ponds, adjusting their goals accordingly. In this regard, they are a reflection of the majority of America, and the bonds they form (like in the case of the two daughters that both Mike and Claire have from previous marriages) feel that much more meaningful.  

Fans of Diamond, and pop music as a whole, should be able to connect to the movie’s sweet spirit. With no-name musicians the world over, it will likely resonate that much more. It is undoubtedly a flawed film that sometimes gets caught up in the trappings of its purpose. But it is executed with love from all involved and offers up a story special enough to be worth telling.

Song Sung Blue is currently playing in theaters and is also available to rent on Fandango at Home.