If ever there was a movie that could make “Sweet Caroline” feel new again, it’s Song Sung Blue.
Filmmaker Craig Brewer, best known for bringing earthy, musical energy to Hustle & Flow, turns his attention to a love story so improbably true it almost feels like a tall tale told by disinterested patrons over barroom karaoke. With Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson leading the way, this Neil Diamond tribute-band biopic is a sparkly, jingly, heartfelt romp that proves sometimes hitting the right emotional notes matters more than having perfect pitch.
The story follows Mike (Jackman) and Claire (Hudson), two down-on-their-luck musicians who find salvation, not to mention romance, in the glittery jackets and sequined shirts of a Neil Diamond cover act. What starts as a desperate ploy to make rent turns into a full-blown journey of rediscovering purpose, family, and that kind of love that sneaks up while you’re strumming chords you’ve played a thousand times before. It’s the cinematic equivalent of finding a twenty-dollar bill in an old guitar case: unexpected, delightful, and a little bit magical.
Jackman, a seasoned song-and-dance man, is clearly having the time of his life. His Mike is equal parts swagger and self-doubt; he nails the tricky art of being both the joke and the punchline. Hudson matches him step for step, bringing warmth and humor to Claire, a dreamer with a voice that can melt ice - or at least the crusty resistance of a small Wisconsin dive-bar audience. Together, they’re Lightning and Thunder, the kind of pairing that can make even a worn-out power ballad feel like a revelation. The highlight of their brief and tragic journey is marked by an appearance at a Wisconsin music festival hosted by Eddie Vedder, who joins the duo on stage to sing a few bars with them. Yes, it really happened.
Jim Belushi and Michael Imperioli round out the supporting cast as a pair of world-weary club owners who act as both obstacles and unlikely cheerleaders. Ella Anderson, playing Claire’s teenage daughter, delivers a wonderfully unfiltered performance that cuts through the schmaltz with sincerity. Her eye-rolls say what every teen feels when watching their parents chase wild dreams. But her eventual buy-in is one of the film’s sweetest surprises.
Brewer wisely leans into his film’s inherent campiness. Song Sung Blue doesn’t just wink at us. It throws an arm around us and hands over a tambourine. Glitter, fringe, cheesy grins, and all, it’s an ode to second chances, wrapped in the shimmering key of Diamond. And though the story dips into some emotionally heavy material (the real-life tale has its fair share of heartbreak), Brewer keeps things lively. He’s less interested in tragedy than in the beauty of perseverance - the small victories that make life sing.
Sure, the movie doesn’t always hit every note. The middle act drags just a touch, and a few of the musical montages stray into Hallmark territory. But when the final curtain drops and the crowd, fictional and otherwise, rises in applause, you realize Song Sung Blue has done exactly what it set out to do: send you out to the parking lot humming, smiling, and maybe even a little teary-eyed.
This holiday season, skip the big pretentious prestige dramas and go where the sparkle shines. Song Sung Blue might not be a perfect tune, but it’s one you’ll be humming long after the credits roll. It’s a feel-good gem that proves even tribute bands can steal the show.
For an added lift, hit Google and check out the video of the real Lightning and Thunder being introduced to the stage by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. You just can’t make this stuff up. And after watching Song Sung Blue, you’ll be glad someone didn’t try to.
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 133 mins
Director: Craig Brewer
Writer: Craig Brewer
Cast: Hugh Jackman; Kate Hudson; Ella Anderson
Genre: Music | Biography
Tagline: Inspired by a Legend. Bound by a Dream
Memorable Movie Quote: "So, you'd be lightning, and I'd be thunder?"
Distributor: Focus Features
Official Site:
Release Date: December 25, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together.
