The Reel Review
Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute band, experiences success and heartbreak over a 17-year musical journey from 1989 to 2006. Kate Hudson and Huge Jackman star in this musical biopic based on the duo.
As biopics go, Song Sung Blue is pretty predictable, despite grappling with real-life problems faced by ordinary people – money issues, unexpected tragedy, mental health challenges and addiction. Hudson and Jackman, who do their own singing, have excellent onscreen chemistry, with an also excellent Ella Anderson (Suncoast, Henry Danger) as Claire’s insightful daughter.
At times the story from co-writer/director Craig Brewer (Dolomite is My Name, Hustle & Flow) is cheesier than a Wisconsin dairy, and the story could have benefitted greatly from more details about the duo’s success and popularity, but even so, the crowd pleasing film does drive home a really sweet message that it’s never too late to find love or follow your dreams.
REEL FACTS
• Director Craig Brewer was so moved by the 2008 documentary Song Sung Blue that he immediately e-mailed its director to option the rights for a musical biopic.
• Mike Sardina actually died just days after striking his head during a heart attack and failing to get medical treatment. Although Mike never got to meet Neil Diamond, Claire did in 2008.
• Claire Sardina, who still performs and splits her time between Wisconsin and Arizona, has a cameo appearance as a fan in a TV interview 48 minutes into the film.
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