Song Sung Blue: Neil Diamond Tribute Film Takes a Wild Turn
A Neil Diamond tribute band’s story starts as a feel-good underdog tale, but takes a sharp, unexpected turn. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson lead a film that’s anything but predictable.
Song Sung Blue kicks off as a quirky, feel-good yarn about a tribute act that unexpectedly becomes a local sensation. With Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson donning some cracking wigs and belting out “Forever in Blue Jeans”, you’d expect a bit of light-hearted fun. The audience, no doubt, is in on the joke, watching these two stars lean into the campy side of things.
Jackman’s Mike “Lightning” Sardina and Hudson’s Claire “Thunder” Sardina find themselves swept up in both the thrill of performing and a budding romance. It all feels set for a classic biopic ride: a few bumps, a big blow-up, but ultimately a heartwarming comeback thanks to the magic of music and a bit of love. It’s the sort of thing you’d expect to see around Christmas or during awards season, ticking all the right boxes for a crowd-pleaser.
When Everything Goes Off the Rails
Just as you’re settling in, the story takes a sharp left turn. The band’s rise is cut short by a nasty car crash, leaving Claire with a life-changing injury. The suddenness of it all feels deliberate, as if director Craig Brewer wants to jolt the audience out of their comfort zone. Claire’s rushed to hospital, while Mike and the kids are left reeling. Things only get worse when Mike suffers a heart scare, and his stepdaughter Rachel has to jump in with a defibrillator. The mood shifts completely, and the earlier lightness is gone in a flash.
Brewer blurs the lines between Claire’s hospital stay and her return home, making it all feel a bit dreamlike. The focus moves to Claire’s struggle with her new reality and Mike’s shift from dreamer to the one holding things together. The film’s energy never quite recovers, weighed down by a string of misfortunes: teenage pregnancy, more car accidents, a breakdown, even a stint in a mental health facility. By the time the next disaster hits, you’re left wondering if the universe is just taking the mickey out of this family.
Performances and Tonal Whiplash
It turns out, the story is based on the real lives of Mike and Claire Sardina. Their resilience is impressive, but the film’s endless string of setbacks feels more exhausting than inspiring. Even the moments that should hit home—like Mike and Rachel planning for the baby, or the big comeback gig—are overshadowed by the film’s earlier campiness, making it hard to fully buy in.
The confusion over tone spills into the performances. Jackman and Hudson have a natural rapport, but at times it’s as if they’re acting in two different films. Jackman shines in the lighter moments, channelling the showman energy he’s known for, but struggles to settle into the heavier scenes. Hudson, on the other hand, carries the emotional weight, delivering a strong turn as someone masking her pain with relentless optimism.
Should You Give It a Go?
If you’re expecting a straightforward celebration of Neil Diamond’s hits, you’ll get your singalong moments—“Sweet Caroline” included. But be ready for a wild tonal shift that the film never quite manages to smooth over. The change in direction feels intentional, aiming for something deeper, but it doesn’t quite land. There’s a genuine attempt to honour Lightning & Thunder’s perseverance, but it’s hard to shake the sense of discomfort that lingers throughout.
Song Sung Blue hits cinemas on 25 December.