Song Sung Blue (2025) * * *

Directed by:  Craig Brewer

Starring:  Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Jim Belushi, Fisher Stevens

Like Dolemite Is My Name and Hustle and Flow, Craig Brewer creates another movie about ordinary people using art to rise above their station in life and give themselves temporary fame.  Mike "Lightning" Sardina (Jackman) and his wife Claire "Thunder" Sardina (Hudson) met during a concert of musical impersonators where Mike covers Don Ho's Tiny Bubbles and Claire does her best Patsy Cline.  Mike, a recovering alcoholic celebrating this 20th year sober, wants more.  Claire suggests he alter his hair style and sing Neil Diamond songs.  Mike, who holds Diamond above all others in the musical hierarchy, at first wouldn't dare insult Diamond by trying to impersonate him, but then decides to go for it.  

Because Jackman and Hudson are great singers, they give the musical performances a lot of gusto, even though we tire of hearing Sweet Caroline over and over.  Like Mike says, Neil Diamond is more than Sweet Caroline.  I would've loved to have heard America, Love on the Rocks, Hello Again, and even You Don't Bring Me Flowers, but none of those are heard.  Song Sung Blue, based on a true story and a 2008 documentary about the couple, is like many biopics in that it isn't meant to be taken as gospel.  Many of the events of the film were truncated into a few years when in fact the story lasted over a decade.  Thunder and Lightning became Milwaukee institutions, even opening for Pearl Jam when they played Milwaukee. 

I didn't exactly research the back story, but I'm sure there are exaggerations and dramatic license galore taken.  While it is true that Claire lost part of her leg in a freak accident, I'm not sure how much I buy another car nearly hitting her again in the exact same spot in front of her home, which sparks her out of her doldrums and inspires her to take up singing with Mike again.  Jackman and Hudson are terrific performers and their spirit makes Song Song Blue worthwhile, although it does help to be a Neil Diamond fan.