Early on in Song Sung Blue, there’s a scene where Hugh Jackman’s character, Mike Sardina, steps up to a microphone and starts singing the movie’s titular Neil Diamond classic before heading to the Wisconsin Star Fair. It’s a tender, sincere moment where we get the full vibe of Craig Brewer’s film, with the performance treated like the only thing holding Mike together. It’s not a showstopper like some of Jackman’s previous sets in Les Misérables or even The Greatest Showman. But it’s also not meant to be. The setting where he sings isn’t glamorous, but somehow it lands anyway. The way he holds the notes, to the way he looks out at the room, as if the song is everything he’s ever known — it’s that genuine sentiment for Diamond’s music that quietly tells you what kind of movie this is going to be. That’s why Song Sung Blue film works so well as a holiday watch. It’s warm without being corny, and earnest without ever being pushy. Based on a true story, which also received a documentary of the same name, the film follows two struggling musicians who find love and purpose through a Diamond tribute band. It’s never once taken up as a gimmick, but rather a lifeline for them to connect. Jackman and his co-star, Kate Hudson, ground the story in something gentle and human, making this less about having big dreams and more about achieving small victories. In a sea of biopics this year, Song Sung Blue never reinvents the genre, but it does offer something sweet and comforting to end the year.
What Is ‘Song Sung Blue’ About?

After that opening performance, the film slowly moves into Mike’s reality. Divorced and newly sober, Mike isn’t chasing music more than he’s using it to stay grounded. When we first see him at the state fair with a bounty of impersonators, it’s kind of funny. But it’s also quietly revealing how these people are not trying to become stars, but rather hold onto versions of themselves through music that means something deeper to them. It’s here that Mike meets Hudson’s Claire, a Patsy Cline impersonator who is pretty laid-back and has experience, but not a ton of ambition. While it feels like a meet-cute at first, the relationship is a slow simmer where they get to know each other through talking, singing, and playing together. From that bond, it soon becomes clear they are both circling the same ideas in life: to just be happy doing something they genuinely love. With Claire suggesting they start a Neil Diamond tribute band called “Lightning and Thunder,” Mike hesitates and is worried about committing to a version of himself that might fall apart. But Claire reframes it not as impersonation, but rather as an “interpretation.” It’s this distinction that gives the movie its emotional footing. Lightning and Thunder was never about copying a legend, but instead, using beloved, familiar music to say something personal, even if your audience is small. From there, the story grows in modest, believable ways, even if some of the real timeline is skewed for the Hollywood effect. But with moderate pacing and sharp performances, rehearsals for the pair turn into gigs (including opening for Pearl Jam), gigs turn into a routine, and a family unit slowly emerges. Song Sung Blue lingers in these spaces, even if it’s sometimes longer than necessary. But with clear direction for small instances that add up, the film focuses on everyday settings while never twisting itself into a fantasy about mass success. It stays rooted in something more intimate, treading the quiet fulfillment of just finding a place where you belong, even if it takes longer than expected to get there.
Jackman and Hudson Are the Real Heart of ‘Song Sung Blue’

Even when the story slows down in spots, the reason Song Sung Blue works so well is because of Jackman and Hudson. The two are never outdoing each other, and make sure their characters feel real from the start. As characters who have been through a lot, they carry a layered weight into every scene they share. And even though this isn’t a sweeping romance, their chemistry is refreshingly low-key and hinges on the pair elevating each other. From that very first scene, you know who Mike is almost immediately. Not because Jackman shows it to us, but because of how little space he gives himself in a room. He’s kind and earnest, but also deeply flawed. The way he keeps brushing off his health scares isn’t framed as some movie gag, but the denial of someone who thinks if he pauses or stops, it means he’s failed. Jackman lets that tension sit in his body through Mike’s movements, and his avoidance of eye contact with things that appear too real. But Jackman’s biggest job is balancing all of that while singing, too. You hear a broken man in his voice as he pushes through notes because that strain is the character.

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But if Jackman is the film’s grit, Hudson is the emotional anchor of Song Sung Blue. Claire is written with sharp edges and a ton of nuance, especially when the couple faces their first major trial together. But Hudson never softens Claire’s behavior once things start to narrow around her. It’s this rooted honesty that makes Claire’s worst moments feel understandable. And like Jackman, Hudson’s singing carries that same emotional weight, particularly when her character holds a note or lets her voice crack slightly. With the stage being where she is her most vulnerable, this backdrop helps Hudson reveal what the character can’t always say through the music. When it comes to the supporting cast, Michael Imperioli brings a sharp mix of charm and chaos as the band’s promoter, Mark, while Jim Belushi brings an easy warmth and energy that could easily tip into caricature as their manager, Tom, but never does. But one of the most impressive standouts comes from 20-year-old Ella Anderson, who stars as Claire’s daughter, Rachel. Anderson never falls into a generic trope of the concerned daughter. Instead, she brings a quiet maturity to the teenager, especially when watching her parents unravel. It’s her sharp, emotionally gritty reactions that feel lived-in and genuine, and hit harder when things really tip over for the family.
‘Song Sung Blue’ Knows Exactly What Story It’s Telling

Image via Focus Features

It’s actually a relief that the writing in Song Sung Blue isn’t trying to be clever or different. So many of these kinds of biopics can really lean into being self-contained in a way that feels like they’re desperate to prove the story matters, forcing tidy life lessons every 10 minutes. But this one really resists that to stay small, and most of all, human. It never races to hit plot points. Instead, it’s a fairly simple story, and when things start to get heavy, it doesn’t feel like it’s pushing you into it either. It kind of just sits with you to digest and process. And with the couple facing a mountain of hardships, it’s never treated as a plot twist either. Instead, it’s framed as the slice of life sort of happenings continuing to be unfair.

As a lifelong Diamondhead, the Neil Diamond music is appreciated and fun, and definitely a warm blanket in the background. It’s there constantly, but not in a way that does any emotional lifting for the film. The songs are never used like a greatest hits jukebox, but more like emotional shortcuts for Mike and Claire’s dynamic and their feelings. And because Jackman and Hudson are both carrying so much of their characters’ weight while they sing, the music ends up feeling personal, not performative. By the end of it all, it’s not the kind of movie that makes you think this is groundbreaking, by any means. From the beginning, Song Sung Blue knows exactly the kind of story it’s telling. It’s not about reinventing yourself late in life or even miracles. It’s about finding something steady when the world around you is pretty shaky. Yes, the movie wanders a bit and wears its flaws openly, but it’s still pretty sincere and something you can easily overlook. If you’re someone who saw the trailer too and thought, “woof, this is cheesy AF,” trust me when I say it doesn’t give the film a fair chance at its full picture. Like the songs it’s built around, it’s simple and familiar, and sometimes that’s enough to make a movie feel so good, so good. Song Sung Blue comes to theaters on December 25 in the U.S.

Release Date

December 25, 2025

Runtime

133 minutes

Director

Craig Brewer

Writers

Craig Brewer

Producers

Greg Kohs, John Davis, John Fox

Pros & Cons

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson deliver grounded, emotionally rich performances that never feel showy.
Neil Diamond’s music is used with care, enhancing the story without turning it into a jukebox.
A sincere, human approach that favors character over forced inspiration.

The pacing drags in spots, especially before the band fully comes together.
Some emotional beats linger longer than they need to.
The drama stacks up fast later on, which can start to feel heavy.