A One Mann’s Movies review of “Song Sung Blue” (2026, 4*, 15).
My first film that actually got released in 2026 (so another “Happy New Year” to you dear reader), “Song Sung Blue” is NOT, as the first trailer might have made you believe, a biopic of Neil Diamond but something else entirely. But very entertaining it is, in a romantic, old-fashioned, melodramatic sort of way.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Ex-Vietnam vet Mike (Hugh Jackman) and single-mum Claire (Kate Hudson) are tribute artists scraping a living doing gigs. They meet and immediately fall for each other, striking up a partnership – “Lightening and Thunder” – paying tribute to Neil Diamond. But life has some bumps in the road.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Upsetting scenes, references to sex & drugs, injury detail, strong language”)
Talent:
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, Hudson Hensley, King Princess, Michael Imperioli,
Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, John Beckwith.
Directed by: Craig Brewer.
Written by: Craig Brewer. (Based on the documentary by Greg Kohs).
Running Time: 2h 12m.
Summary:
Positives:
- Despite the bumps in the story, the film has a strong feelgood vibe to it.
- Kate Hudson is just magnificent here: a brilliant performance.
- Although perhaps over-hashing some of them, the Neil Diamond songs are fabulous.
Negatives:
- There’s what seems to me a curiously out-of-sequence scene.
- Some of the bizarre sequences in the movie seem too ridiculous to be true (but at least some are!)
Full Review of “Song Sung Blue”:
Kate Hudson brings Thunder to life.
The film is based on the (embellished) true life story of Milwaukee couple Mike and Claire Sardina, who – as portrayed in the film – were a tribute act doing covers of Neil Diamond (and also Abba and other artists) at state fairs and the like in Vermont.
Hugh Jackman delivers a solid (if a traditionally slightly-cheesy) performance as Mike. I think he’s a great and charismatic song and dance man, but in the acting stakes he always looks like he’s acting to me!
But it is Kate Hudson who is the magnetic performer here, absolutely nailing the role of Claire. Claire has a rocky road to travel in this story, and Hudson nails the highs of the love story and the performing as well as the desperate lows of Claire’s worst days. The real Claire Sardina, who is still alive, has praised the portrayal. IMDB reports Hudson as having been in 48 films before this one (including, bizarrely, a first and uncredited performance as one of the choir kids in “Home Alone 2”!) But I would state that this is a career-best performance for her and she deserves all the awards nominations available.
Great Supporting performances.
The supporting cast also do a great job with particular praise in my book going to Ella Anderson playing Claire’s daughter Rachel and young Hudson Hensley as her son Dana.
Feelgood vibes.
The film has really great highs – particularly the energetic concert performances. Neil Diamond has a brilliant songbook and this film has had me suddenly bursting into my own impression of him randomly in the kitchen for a couple of days now!
We do get to hear some of his more familiar songs a bit too often. Some of this (eg Song Sung Blue) is in support of the story, but other repitions feel like a missed opportunity to feature other favourites. Why did some of his other famous songs not get a look in? We do however get to hear some others that I was not familiar with. Hudson’s emotional rendition of “I’ve Been This Way Before” at the end of the film is particularly lovely.
But the film also has really terrifying lows, deserving its 12A certificate for “upsetting scenes”: if you are an emotional sort, take tissues.
Out of sequence scene?
My family always roll their eyes at me as we have our annual pre-Christmas watch of “Love Actually” when I have my traditional rant about John (Martin Freeman) and Judy (Joanna Page) kissing goodnight and referencing “All I Want For Christmas is You” before they have ever been to the concert! So, perhaps I am particularly sensitive to dodgy editing decisions!
But there is a scene in “Song Sung Blue” where Mike and Claire are on stage at the Thai restaurant singing “Holly Holy” that seems to be curiously out of sequence in the film. Because a few minutes after that scene there is a key decision that Claire makes to resume an activity which definitely feels to me like it should have come BEFORE that scene.
Ludicrous decisions!
This is a film that has some truly bizarre moments in it. Some of these are – incredibly – almost true as portrayed. Others are definitely not! As these are spoilers, I’ve included a quick summary – from my internet research – in the “Spoiler Section” below the trailer.
Monkeys?
The film doesn’t have any “monkeys” per se, but before the credit role there is a shot of the real life Lightning and Thunder, with the film dedicated to them. At the end of the credits there is simply the Lightning and Thunder logo.
Summary Thoughts:
It’s not a work of art and has some rough corners, but as an uplifting and deliciously enjoyable cinema experience, “Song Sung Blue” is hard to beat.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqU7iiHFCzw. One of the trailers has a big spoiler for a significant event in the film…. but this one is safe. However, it doesn’t make clear that this is NOT a biopic about Neil Diamond which confused a lot of people, me included!
Spoiler Section:
Don’t read past this point if you’ve not seen the movie.
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NO, SERIOUSLY!
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Bizarre incidents in the film.
I’ve not yet seen the “Song Sung Blue” documentary about the pair (which I believe is currently on Netflix), but I have trawled a number of articles to check on some of the more bizzarre incidents in the film:
- Lightning and Thunder opened for Pearl Jam: TRUE. The duo did act as the support act to Pearl Jam when they did their gig in Milwaukee. And Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder did join them on-stage to sing “Forever in Blue Jeans” with them.
- Claire got hit by a car while gardening at her house and lost a leg: TRUE. As depicted in the film, a car careered off the street and pinned her against her house resulting in an amputation and the subsequent period of painkiller addiction and depression.
- Claire nearly got hit by another car in almost identical circumstances. MOSTLY TRUE. Bizarrely, another driver careered off the road and hit the house in an identical incident. However, while Mike and Claire were at home at the time, Claire was not standing by the same spot as depicted.
- Mike had a heart attack at the hospital and his daughter restarted his heart. FALSE? I can’t find any documentation to support this. Which seems ridiculous: why would you have a heart attack in a hospital and not get medical professionals to help you? I guess it plays to a decision – or lack of one – for a key incident later in the film. But it does defy common sense.
- Mike died following a fall and refused medical assistance. TRUE. Mike did have a fall at home and refused medical treatment before dying about a week later in hospital due to undiagnosed internal bleeding. All of the “final concert” stuff and meeting Neil Diamond is fictional.
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