The Australian has proven that Hugh Jackman is an excellent singer not only in films like “The Greatest Showman” or “Les Misérables”, but also on real musical stages all over the world. He now shows how variable his voice really is in “Song Sung Blue”. In the tragicomedy by “Hustle & Flow” director Craig Brewer, which is based on a true story, the “X-Men” star embodies a Neil Diamond impersonator who at least achieves local prominence with his tribute performances.
Jackman manages to get very close to the vocal color and phrasing of the “Sweet Caroline” crooner. Also in terms of his appearance – from his hairstyle to his sideburns! – he comes astonishingly close to the model. But given the ongoing glut of musician biopics, that's fortunately not the focus at all, but rather an impressive addition to a film that repeatedly moves us to tears, especially with a painfully beautiful love story.
After being moderately successful on their own, Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire (Kate Hudson) achieve local fame together.
Milwaukee, late 1980s: Vietnam War veteran Mike Sardinas (Hugh Jackman) earns his living as a temporary car mechanic, but his true passion is the stage. Because he doesn't write any songs himself, he sings the songs of his heroes such as Elvis Presley and Don Ho at local tribute shows. On one of these evenings he meets the hairdresser Claire Stengl (Kate Hudson), who is also a music-crazy, and who is impersonating the country singer Patsy Cline. Mike and the single mother of two children become friends and decide to start a project together.
As Lightning & Thunder They present their personal interpretations of the hits of 1970s superstar Neil Diamond. The duo and their band are so good that they have become regional cult stars. They also have great harmony in their private lives – they fall in love, move in together and get married. But then one day Claire is hit by an out-of-control car in the garden of her house and the couple's previously bright existence drifts into darkness…
The stars make the difference
Hugh Jackman already manages to arouse a lot of sympathy for his character with charm and self-irony during the opening scene at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. When he then begins to sing, the audience has finally taken this Mike to their hearts – Jackman intones the title song of the film with so much warmth and heart. In general, “Song Sung Blue” is a clear candidate for the title of “feel-good film of the year” in the first hour of its running time. But then comes the second half, which is especially recommended for all moviegoers who really want to flush their tear ducts again. But don't worry: Even if everything doesn't end well, the film ends on a deservedly positive note.
The story mainly consists of anecdotal scenes from Mike and Claire's life together, but “Song Sung Blue” develops a surprisingly good flow. Despite the many musical interludes, the film never threatens to degenerate into a screen revue. It is primarily the actors who hold the film together – especially the two big names on the poster: Yes, the stars occasionally go overboard with their facial expressions and gestures, but without ever drifting into Nicolas Cage or Al Pacino territory. The thick application also fits here, after all, the two performers are playing, whose most important moments often take place in the spotlight. The sexy but also camaraderie-like chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson (“Almost Famous”) has us rooting for Mike and Claire from the start – and worrying for them right up to the end.
You keep your fingers crossed for both of them so much that you can hardly resist crying uncontrollably in the second half.
Already during the first jam session together in Claire's puny apartment, the creative and soon also the romantic spark jumps credibly to the shared sounds of “Play Me”. Hudson embodies the role, which is perhaps even more demanding because it is more complex. The stars receive support from a wonderful ensemble: especially the two young actresses Ella Anderson and King Princess, who play Claire's and Mike's daughters from previous, unhappy marriages, respectively, stand out in dramatically challenging parts. Hollywood veterans James Belushi (“My Partner with the Cold Mouth”), Fisher Stevens (“Hackers”), Mustafa Shakir (“Emancipation”) and Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”) are responsible for a large part of the humor – a task that the quartet performs routinely and yet with obvious joy in the matter.
It's a lot of fun to see Jackman practicing his “Neil moves” in his underpants or to see the band perform their “cheerful songs” in a scene reminiscent of “The Blues Brothers” in a tough biker bar. The moment when a certain Eddie Vedder (John Beckwith) contacts them out of nowhere and reveals himself to be a fan is also very funny. Finally, Claire's completely out of it daughter first has to explain to the unsuspecting Mike that the caller is the frontman of Pearl Jam, who wants to hire her as his opening act at the local arena.
With a laughing and a crying eye
But the sad segments also hit just as hard. You almost think that the Sardinas family might be cursed or that the script is simply exaggerating. But everything that's shown here actually happened to the real people behind the story – and when you know that, instead of complaining about an exaggerated script, the film, which doesn't hold back on its emotions, works even better. Unfortunately, the 2008 documentary of the same name, which served as inspiration for the feature film, is currently not available anywhere. But the theatrical release of “Song Sung Blue” could perhaps change that – as could the appreciation of the genius of Neil Diamond, who, as Mike repeatedly emphasizes, should in no way be reduced to the sing-along anthem “Sweet Caroline”, which is now primarily known from sporting events.
Conclusion: A feel-good film that is guaranteed to make you cry – Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson shine as a musical screen duo that you take so much to your heart that you (almost) feel just as happy for them.