Songs Sung by Hugh (and Kate)

Song Sung Blue is a movie for anyone who thought Deliver Me from Nowhere needed a few more hit songs. While the film about a Neil Diamond tribute band isn’t exactly a downer, like the Bruce Springsteen film is, it’s not entirely the upbeat entertainment the trailers and commercials promise, either.

It’s got a soundtrack that’ll make you sing like a guitar hummin’, though. And that’ll be more than enough for some viewers.

Craig Brewer’s film opens with a slow, slightly corny wind-up as we meet Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman), a Milwaukee mechanic whose dreams are bigger than his bank account. After an initial scene set at an AA meeting, where we learn Mike’s been sober for 20 years, the action shifts to a gig where he’s supposed to be performing as Don Ho — Hawaiian shirt, wig, and all — but he refuses to dress up. (Other performers, including one played by Michael Imperioli, are dressed as Buddy Holly, James Brown, and Elvis.) Mike would much rather be singing the songs of his idol, Neil Diamond — just not “Sweet Caroline,” which is the song everybody wants him to sing. He takes the music very seriously.

Then he meets Claire Stengl (Kate Hudson), a hairdresser and a singer herself, who performs as Patsy Cline. Like Mike, she has dreams that go beyond performing at the state fair: “I’m not a songwriter, I’m not a sex symbol, but I am an entertainer,” Claire tells Mike. Naturally, sparks fly, and an act is formed.

The early scenes lean on some clunky dialogue, and you can almost hear the movie clearing its throat before it lets loose. But when Mike and Claire begin to sing together as Lightning & Thunder, they make a beautiful noise, and the movie really clicks. Brewer shoots the performance scenes like little love letters to live music, showing the way that two scrappy performers can find real chemistry by pursuing their mutual passion. 

On stage, with Claire watching him channel Neil Diamond, Mike becomes the best version of himself. Likewise, that’s when the movie itself really finds its rhythm. Song Sung Blue settles into something warm and winning: a true-story portrait of Mike and Claire, the real-life couple who built a life — and a Neil Diamond experience — out of sheer, stubborn hope. Yes, this film is based on the 2008 documentary about them, and yes, some of what happens here sounds too wild to be true. So the fact that much of this is true makes the movie that much more fun. (For example, yes, they really did open for Pearl Jam, on Saturday, July 8, 1995.) 

And then, just when you think you’re cruising toward a tidy “and they made it!” ending at the big show, the bottom drops out. Life happens. I won’t spoil anything, but suffice it to say, the film pivots into a tougher, more interesting second act about perseverance and the way music can pull you back from the edge. Call it the movie’s “I Am… I Said” moment: It’s a bit messy and raw, and exactly what makes the whole thing feel human.

Through it all, Jackman plays Mike like a man trying to hustle inspiration out of thin air. You feel the effort. Sometimes that works in his favor; Mike tries hard in life, so the performance fits. Other times, you notice the gears turning. 

On the other hand, Hudson is luminous. She’s funny, bruised, and quietly fierce, and her musical chops are not in doubt. (Her singing was impressive in Nine, too.) It’s like Hudson’s been waiting years for a role like this to remind the world what a formidable and deeply heartfelt performer she can be. It’s one of her better performances — maybe her best since Almost Famous.

Of course, the Neil Diamond songbook is woven through the film; “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Holly Holy,” “Soolaimon,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Play Me,” “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” and, yes, “Sweet Caroline” are all given a prominent spotlight. 

Is Song Sung Blue “so good, so good, so good”? Not quite. It’s a bit long, and it crawls to the end, delaying the inevitable, and then taking a while to step off the stage. And Brewer sometimes pushes the melodrama too far. 

But if you’ve got any affection for Neil Diamond, or Jackman, or for true stories about regular people who keep showing up for their shot, Song Sung Blue is an easy, heartfelt ride — one that will leave you humming on the way out.

I’m giving it a B–.