Song Sung Blue, 2025.
Written and Directed by Craig Brewer.
Starring Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hensley, Shyaporn Theerakulstit, John Beckwith, Cecelia Riddett, Jayson Warner Smith, Sean Allan Krill, Kena Anae, Darius Rose, Chacha Tahng, Faye Tamasa, Carey Van Driest, and Tom O’Keefe.
SYNOPSIS:
Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together.
The first half of writer/director Craig Brewer’s Lightning and Thunder biopic (a Neil Diamond tribute act played by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson), Song Sung Blue, stumbles through the usual musician clichés, with a slight, mildly intriguing twist: these are cover artists. It’s disappointing enough, but the second half is a different kind of abomination altogether, cramming in heavy surprises and side plots handled with no grace. It’s difficult to say the results are emotionally manipulative since the material is so clumsily handled that the only reaction is bafflement. Hell, one central character suffers a tragic accident, becoming disabled, which the story smooths over; for about 30 minutes, it’s overwhelmingly cloying, and then essentially ignored. At times, one forgets what happened to the character.
Based on the documentary by Greg Kohs, the problems here are beyond Craig Brewer not knowing how to handle certain narrative aspects with the sensitivity and depth they deserve. Everything this film juggles, from alcoholism to heart problems to tragedies to family dysfunction, is executed through hollow scenes without the faintest hint of authenticity or honesty. Even if the highs for these characters play out in a manner that feels contrived and fake (the implementation and support of a young Eddie Vedder is downright hilarious). Then there are sad beats that are comically telegraphed. Song Sung Blue is a deeply embarrassing piece of awards bait, but it would make for an incredibly funny Walk Hard riff. Mean-spirited jokes involving vehicular accidents practically write themselves during the ending.
Veteran soldier Mike (Hugh Jackman) is now sober and has been for 20 years. While celebrating his sobriety, he makes a point of singing Neil Diamond’s titular song. However, at a small show where he is forbidden from singing Neil, he walks out on the paycheck. However, he meets Patsy Cline cover artist Claire (Kate Hudson), with whom he develops a mutual attraction. They visit her home, and he struggles to connect with her angsty teenage daughter, Rachel (Ella Anderson). His attempts to rectify this involve bringing his estranged daughter Angelina (King Princess) into the picture (a daughter he already wishes he got to see more) in hopes that she and Rachel will become besties. Meanwhile, Claire’s younger son Dayna (Hudson Hensley) is happy for the lovebirds and even encourages their rockstar charisma.
With some endearing banter that makes the blossoming of this relationship believable, Mike and Claire inevitably become Lightning and Thunder. Even with Mike routinely peeved that audiences only want to hear “Sweet Caroline” or miscommunications that led the duo to play for a biker bar that couldn’t care less about Neil Diamond’s music, they find success here and there. Eventually, they catch the attention of Eddie Vedder, which, naturally, is what finally convinces Rachel that her rocker future stepdad might actually be cool.
Again, this is already clichéd, but nowhere near is indicative or prepares one for how misguided and tonally sloppy the lows are for this band and family once they arrive in equally clumsy fashion. There are mismanaged time jumps that cut short the pacing and drama of several subplots, to the point where one wonders if this was initially meant to be 3 hours before being cut down to a little over 2 (not that I want to torture myself with such an extended cut). Periodically, Mike has heart palpitations, signaling over and over that more tragedy is on the horizon. Still, as said before, it is jarring how glaringly awkward the worst of it is written into the story.
Even if, by some chance, the events here did happen this way in real life, it is put together cinematically in a way that feels emotionally forced and empty, as if Craig Brewer sees only the big moments the narrative has to hit rather than these people as characters. The performances (on-screen and musical renditions) and costumes are the only elements of Song Sung Blue that emerge unscathed.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder
