Song Sung Blue

Love stories are among one of the most common and most popular staples in the movie industry, and they can make for some of the best viewing when handled properly. But that handling is the key – if done well, it can yield moving and satisfying films. However, if mistreated, it can doom such releases significantly. And that, unfortunately, is what drags down the latest offering from writer-director Craig Brewer, an uneven, formulaic, manipulative and melodramatic fact-based romantic biopic about the lives of musical partners Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and Claire Stingl (Kate Hudson). Based on director Greg Kohs’s 2008 documentary of the same name, this narrative feature tells the story of the performing duo of Lightning and Thunder, a couple that made a name for themselves in their hometown of Milwaukee and the surrounding area as a tribute band specializing in the music of Neil Diamond and, to a lesser extent, Patsy Cline. Theirs is a story of second chances, each having suffered setbacks in their married lives the first time around, as well as personal challenges, such as Mike’s battle with alcoholism and heart disease and Claire’s bout with depression. But both of them fought back, finding recovery in their music and in love, helping them each get back on their feet and enabling them to assist one another when new challenges arise. From that description, it would seem that such a premise should provide the basis for a solid love story. But, as noted above, the picture’s uneven handling and somewhat mawkish treatment undermine its potential for greatness. The lighthearted, storybook first half, for example, sets a tone that can’t support the more serious second half, forcing it to subsequently rely on calculated shifts in the direction of the narrative to make it work. In addition, the kitsch factor that drives the Neil Diamond repertoire at the outset is skillfully presented, if a bit overdone, at times approaching the format of a concert movie with incidental scenes interspersed to move the picture forward. But, when the film takes a darker tone, it comes across as incongruent with what preceded it, making viewers wonder how the two halves of the same story could have been combined in the same picture. To its credit, the performances of the songs are a genuine homage to the musicians being honored in this film, and the portrayals of the two leads are quite commendable, particularly that of Golden Globe Award nominee Kate Hudson. But, overall, there’s not enough here to make this one of those memorable Hollywood love stories that viewers will fondly recall for years to come, and that in itself truly is a song sung blue.

Mike (Hugh Jackman a.k.a. “Huge”) ekes out a living doing the tribute act circuit in Milwaukee and that’s where he meets Claire (Kate Hudson). She is trying to support her family, he’s a recovering alcoholic and it’s safe to say that neither are really fulfilled - until, he hits on the idea of a team approach to the works of Neil Diamond. With such an extensive back catalogue including “Sweet Caroline” how could they fail? Well their first gig as “Lightning and Thunder” is for a group of leather-clad bikers and so “Soolaimon” (no, me neither) doesn’t prove the best way to start a gig so much as a brawl. Reconvening, dusted down and targeting a less hostile audience though, they start to achieve some success and even open for “Pearl Jam”. Then as she is digging her garden, a rogue driver puts Claire in hospital and leaves her confidence shattered. With the also ailing Mike now working to keep the four of them and she reduced to the role of painkiller-fuelled couch potato, the question is now - can they regroup and pick-up where they left off, or will it all end up on the rocks? Jackman is fine here, but it’s really Hudson who steals the show with her personable performance - both on stage and when she’s in recovery mode. They both do their own singing and sensibly, Jackman doesn’t try to mimic Diamond as he turns out his hits whilst she accompanies gently on keys and vocals as well as getting toes a-tapping with a few country songs too. It’s not a biopic of Neil Diamond in any way, shape or form but it is one of two talented people who fell in love, hit the skids a few times but tried to persevere - enjoying themselves and entertaining us as they went. Did you know that “Cracklin’ Rosie” was actually about wine?