Cert – 12, Run-time – 2 hours 12 minutes, Director – Craig Brewer
Husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning (Hugh Jackman) And Thunder (Kate Hudson) taking the state of Wisconsin by storm, with music helping them get through many personal battles.
I can’t help but feel that part of the reason Hugh Jackman said yes to Song Sung Blue was for the opportunity to sing whilst doing a bit of acting. That’s not to say that his performance is bad or lazy, it’s certainly not, but it certainly seems to have the most push put into the songs with a slight acknowledgement that this isn’t quite an awards contender.
It’s the musical sequences in writer-director Craig Brewer’s latest which have the most effect. Whether a crowdpleaser like the much-mentioned Sweet Caroline or Forever In Blue Jeans, or a more held back ballad there’s a likable nature to the moments of performance as Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning And Thunder, better known as Mike (Jackman) and Claire (Kate Hudson) become local legends in the state of Wisconsin. Their act, and relationship, comes together quickly after meeting at a fair when performing as part of a tribute act line-up, of which Mike is tired, feeling nothing for the music he’s told to play.
As rowdy biker bars are exchanged for theatres and casino audiences, with Thai restaurant karaoke gigs cropping up along the way, the success the pair find contrasts with the events of their lives as they face personal tragedies. The drama is certainly played up and can occasionally feel somewhat forceful, especially when certain ideas and drawn out with a teary attitude from the film that doesn’t quite translate to those watching, with the main effect being a pushed run-time.
The drama itself feels overfamiliar, in part because of its oversentimentality which brings in a sense of slight awards bait. It leads to an air of artificiality to the overall film, despite lead performances which are putting themselves into the songs and clearly like the characters they’re playing and what the escape and release they find in the music. At their lowest we see them not singing or even really listening to music, instead lying on the sofa watching Family Feud or scanning phone books and newspapers for other work.
Yet, there’s a feeling that certain elements behind the camera don’t quite have the same investment or engagement with the Lightning And Thunder story – the film itself is based on a true story, particularly found in a 2008 documentary of the same name. It means that there feels like a push to compensate for something that doesn’t need to be compensated for. Therefore, the film falls into unnecessary trappings that show its conventions and familiar beats that cause it to be held back despite the likable nature of the musical performances and the links to their effect on the characters, and their simple love of Neil Diamond. If that was kept more in mind throughout the whole film then it may have passed by a bit more easily. For what there is, Song Sung Blue is a solid enough piece of work that doesn’t cause too much trouble whilst on, but feels as if it could be stronger and more in tune with the songs it occasionally makes a big point of.
While the musical performances are highlights it’s because they emphasise the performances best and the relationship the characters have with the music at the hear of Song Sung Blue, however overemphasised drama creates familiarity and emotional holdback.
Just A Little Bit Random 