Song Sung Blue: A Bizarre Journey Through Tribute and Turmoil

At first glance, Song Sung Blue appears to be a rather conventional tale of a tribute act’s unlikely ascent. The premise is simple enough: a Neil Diamond cover band, fronted by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in flamboyant wigs, finds itself at the centre of a local sensation. The opening act is all charm and light-heartedness, with Jackman and Hudson belting out “Forever in Blue Jeans” in a manner that’s entirely earnest. The audience, meanwhile, is left to enjoy the spectacle, perhaps with a knowing smile at the camp of it all.

As Mike “Lightning” Sardina and Claire “Thunder” Sardina’s passion for both music and each other grows, the narrative settles into familiar territory. One expects the usual beats: a few setbacks, a dramatic row, and ultimately, a triumphant return, all buoyed by the redemptive power of song and romance. It’s the sort of fare that seems tailor-made for the festive period or awards chatter.

From Light Entertainment to Sudden Darkness

However, the story soon veers off course. The band’s rise is abruptly halted by a devastating car crash, resulting in Claire losing her leg. The shock is palpable, and it’s difficult not to suspect that director Craig Brewer intended to jolt viewers out of their comfort zone. The sequence is harrowing: Claire is rushed to hospital, while Mike and the children wait in dread. Matters worsen when Mike suffers a heart episode, leaving his stepdaughter Rachel to revive him with a conveniently placed defibrillator. The mood shifts dramatically, and the earlier sense of fun evaporates.

Brewer blurs the lines between hospital and home, as Claire’s recovery is depicted in a disorienting fashion, almost as if the accident were a bad dream. The film pivots to focus on Claire’s struggle with depression and Mike’s reluctant shift from dreamer to practical family man. The tonal shift is so abrupt that the film never quite regains its earlier energy, weighed down by a succession of misfortunes: teenage pregnancy, another car accident, a breakdown, a stint in a psychiatric facility, and yet another crash. By the time the final calamity strikes, it’s hard not to wonder if the universe is playing a particularly cruel joke on the Sardinas.

Performances and Tonal Dissonance

It turns out, this isn’t fiction. The film is based on the real lives of Mike and Claire Sardina, whose resilience is nothing short of remarkable. Yet, their ordeal feels less like an uplifting saga and more like a relentless barrage of hardship. Even the moments that should resonate—Mike and Rachel plotting a way forward, or the band’s comeback gig scheduled against a real Neil Diamond concert—are tinged with the lingering oddness of the film’s opening act, undermining their emotional impact.

The confusion at the heart of Song Sung Blue extends to its cast. Jackman and Hudson share a gentle rapport, but at times it seems as though they’re performing in entirely different productions. Jackman is most comfortable in the film’s lighter moments, drawing on his showman persona, but struggles to settle into the heavier scenes. Hudson, on the other hand, shoulders much of the emotional weight, delivering a convincing portrayal of a woman masking her pain with relentless optimism.

Expectations Upended

Anyone approaching Song Sung Blue expecting a straightforward celebration of Neil Diamond’s music may be in for a surprise. There are singalong moments—“Sweet Caroline” makes an appearance—but the film’s dramatic swerve is both deliberate and disorienting. It seems to reach for gravitas, but never quite earns it, leaving a sense of discomfort that lingers long after the credits roll. The intention to honour Lightning & Thunder’s perseverance is clear, but the execution leaves much to be desired.