Song Sung Blue

by Mike McGranaghan

There’s something about Neil Diamond – not just his music but also his whole vibe – that thrills some people and baffles others. Part of it is probably generational. Another part is that his unapologetic earnestness either inspires you or comes off just a bit cheesy. Based on a touching true story, Song Sung Blue is a veritable love letter to Diamond. If you’re a fan, you’ll be happier than Cracklin’ Rosie on a September Morn. If not, you might still be moved by the romantic relationship at the story’s center.

Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) is a celebrity impersonator forced to play Don Ho by his boss (Michael Imperioli) in a tribute act. There, he meets and falls in love with Patsy Cline impersonator/future wife Claire (Kate Hudson). Mike’s frustration with the gig turns around after he realizes playing Neil Diamond would be a much better fit. He and Claire, dubbing themselves “Lightning & Thunder,” form their own band. The hurdles are many, not the least of which is that they’re repeatedly told “people only want to hear ‘Sweet Caroline’” whereas they like to dig deeper into the catalog, opening their shows with the more obscure “Soolaimon.”

Lightning & Thunder is a novelty until a prominent fan named Eddie Vedder (John Beckwith) invites them to open for Pearl Jam. That’s when they start to become popular. The good times are upended when tragedy strikes, threatening the band, along with Mike and Claire’s marriage.

There are two stories being told in Song Sung Blue. The first is about Mike finding musical fulfillment. Rather than being a Neil Diamond impersonator, he views himself as a “Neil Diamond interpreter” striving to capture the magic of his inspiration. His drive to perform supersedes almost everything else in life, and he constantly fights for his integrity against people who, well, only want to hear “Sweet Caroline.”

The other is about how the love Mike and Claire have overcomes various obstacles. Some are business related, others pertaining to the tragedy. Without specifying what happens – because it’s truly shocking when it arrives – the unified marriage begins to fracture when one member wants to keep performing and the other loses total interest. The couple has to figure out a way to get their relationship back on track.

Written and directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow), Song Sung Blue is enjoyable for its strong performances and emotional content. Hugh Jackman is convincing as Mike, assuring we understand why his passion for music is so central to his life. He’s got the Neil Diamond-isms down, too. Kate Hudson is even better. Getting her best role since 2000’s Almost Famous, she knocks it out of the park, playing Claire as a woman whose lust for life is threatened by the tragic event that occurs. Both stars do their own singing and are quite good.

As expected, a ton of Neil Diamond tunes are featured throughout, ironically leading to the movie’s major setback. Brewer lets the many performance scenes go on for too long and repeats several songs. (You’ll be sick of hearing “Soolaimon” by the time it’s over.) Having so much music elongates the running time to an unnecessary 132 minutes and leads to a few shortcuts in dealing with the tragedy’s aftermath. A little less singing and a little more exploration of the personal devastation would have made for a truly powerful viewing experience.

Song Sung Blue obviously doesn’t want to get too dark. That prevents it from being the sort of next-level drama that will stand the test of time. On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for a feel-good love story with a lot of toe-tapping songs on the soundtrack, the film will (Neil Diamond pun intended) turn on your heartlight.

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