Trailers can be very deceiving. Take, for example, the one for The Holdovers. It doesn’t sell the film well, and yet it’s one of the best Christmas movies around. The same could be said of Song Sung Blue, a biopic of a married couple who became a Neil Diamond tribute act. It doesn’t do the film any justice, yet this is a film so full of joy and love that you cannot help but fall in love with it, while the story is so bizarre that it will tug at your heartstrings until they snap, thanks to powerful performances and a solid script.

Mike Sardina, or his stage name, Lightning, is a small-time musical impersonator who always dreams of the big time. He meets Claire, a Patsy Cline impersonator, and the pair find themselves drawn together. With a passion for performing, they decide to team up as Lightning and Thunder and produce a Neil Diamond Experience. They fall in love, and things are going well until an unexpected accident changes everything.

Writer and director Craig Brewer, whose previous films include the Footloose remake and Coming 2 America, has adapted a 2008 documentary into a movie in two halves. The first is the backstage events and the love story between these two lost souls, one a former alcoholic, the other a mother of two, who both love getting on stage and singing. They are almost made for each other. We follow their journey when, out of the blue, they really hit the big time by opening for American indie band Pearl Jam. The second half is more of a tragic tale of what could go wrong. Without giving too much away, if this weren’t based on a true story, you wouldn’t believe it.

What Brewer brings to the table is a film that is full of heart. He loves these characters, and we, the audience, will too. It helps that they don’t have the egos of performers, although there are moments when Lightning almost loses his grip, but is brought back down to earth by Thunder. Yet this isn’t just a show business tale but a love story, and you follow these two people who don’t want the world, just to entertain, and the way they can do it using Neil Diamond.

The songs are, of course, infectious, and with only one moment when the honest Neil is used, this allows the cast to give us nothing short of a jukebox musical, except that the songs are just the performances and not crowbarred into the narrative.

We grow to love these two people, which makes the second half even more gut-wrenching as the pair face events that would test even the most solid relationships. Yet for everything that happens, it is surprisingly upbeat and feel-good.

The performances are terrific, and before I hit the main leads, a special mention to Jim Belushi, who we haven’t seen in quite some time (although he will be appearing in Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water), who is brilliant as the tour manager of Lightning and Thunder, Tom. If it wasn’t for the leads, he would have stolen the film, but it’s hard to do when you are working with Hugh Jackman and Karte Hudson.

The pair are incredible, and what really works is their chemistry. It’s like they are a couple in real life. It’s rare to see two Hollywood heavyhitters working so well together, but they are the core of this film. They also make a powerhouse duo in the singing department. Jackson always gives his best, and his screen charisma is always strong, but it’s like he was born to play Mike and relishes every moment with a goofy smile. The real revelation is Kate Hudson. This is, by far, her best performance, bringing plenty of heart and love to the role of Claire. She is a character who has to deal with so much. Both are a joy to behold.

Song Sung Blue is a real surprise, and if this is the start of a new cinematic year, then it’s going to be a promising year. It’s not perfect, as there are moments of pure sickly sweetness, but on the whole, it will have you smiling, crying and longing to hear more Neil Diamond, but maybe not Sweet Caroline.

4 out of 5

Director: Craig Brewer

Starring: Hugh Jackson, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, Hudson Hensley, King P{rincess, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Mustafa Shakir, John Beckwith

Written by Craig Brewer and (based on the documentary) Greg Kohs

Running Time: 131 mins

Cert: 12A

Release date 1st January 2026