Throughout Craig Brewer’s latest feel-good biopic, Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman), under the persona “Lightning” begs to limit the amount of times he performs “Sweet Caroline” with his wife and musical partner Claire (Kate Hudson, AKA “Thunder”). The issue is he fronts a Neil Diamond cover band and, well, as one of the most popular Middle America sing-along songs ever written, it’s maybe the only song his audience comes to hear. But he is insistent that Diamond has other, better songs and his passion to reach those out to the masses keeps his motivation going strong. Yes, the trailers have been unafraid to showcase “Sweet Caroline” as the musical hook for Song Sung Blue and it will lure in a crowd who are destined to enjoy it no matter what. The rest of us may be dreading it a bit. Thankfully, the film keeps a promise to Mike and doesn’t overuse the ear-worm anthem. But leaning on an overplayed song should have been the least of this film’s concerns.

Based on the true story of Mike and Claire (as stated “Thunder and Lightning”), one a performer and former alcoholic, the other a mother of two living in Wisconsin, also a performer and Patsy Cline impersonator. The two meet at the same gig and hit it off immediately with Claire, taken with Mike’s flowy hair and showman’s voice, begging him to try taking on the mantle of Neil Diamond full-time. From there, they grab Buddy Holly impersonator Mark Shurilla (Michael Imperioli) as their guitarist and Tom D’Amato (Jim Belushi) as their manager and hit the road to surprising and growing success. However, both Mike’s health problems and a shocking accident nearly derail both their professional careers and their lives. 

Hudson, with her winning smile and blown-out hair is a joy to watch as Claire. Putting on a thick Wisconsin accent, Hudson never delves into parody. She’s very much the embodiment of authentic Midwest charm and motherly love. Her singing voice beautifully harmonizing with Jackman’s while looking ravishing in her collection of sequin outfits. 

Jackman, on the other hand, has a ton of charisma and fully commits to a role he just isn’t a perfect fit for. Yes, as everyone knows, Jackman is a musical virtuoso, but his singing voice isn’t quite the right fit for Neil Diamond. It’s true that Mike’s voice wasn’t in real-life either (he would consider himself a “Neil Diamond interpreter” over impersonator), but Jackman’s natural Aussie accent can’t be contained in certain notes. Nor can the Wolverine muscles distractingly bulging out of his clothes. Nor can the shaggy wig that looks like one subwoofer boom from flying off his head. It’s conflicting to watch Jackman give so much to the role of Mike Sardina, both comedically, musically, and dramatically as the film leans deep into his fragile mental and physical struggles when he never feels like the right actor to make this work.

Though, again, that’s only a wrinkle compared to the rest of this movie’s problems. The film’s ugly, washed-out digital look strips any real warmth meant to be translated from the married pair’s shared love of music and each other. The tone is constantly whipping back and forth from being silly and goofy to deadly serious, without ever building up to those heavy moments or letting them resonate before the pair is back on stage singing “Holly Holy”. Many of these “big moments” are shown out of obligation to this true story, but quickly skimmed over as though they have no lasting consequences. 

Song Sung Blue starts out charming, and almost works as a film about the process of music collaboration, especially in the early scene of Mike and Claire’s first practice together, but the rest of their story is portrayed phonier and phonier as it goes on, playing the audience’s heartstrings like it plays the old-reliable hits. It will work for the easy-criers and those that just want the “nice option” at the movies this Christmas. But for the rest, it’s just a false note played over and over.