- Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Imperioli
- January 1st 2026
- 132
- Craig Brewer
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play Neil Diamond tribute performers Lightning and Thunder in this biographical drama.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson are no strangers to singing on-screen, and now they’ve combined their musical talents for the first time in Song Sung Blue.
In the biographical drama, which is not strictly a musical although it features many performance scenes, Jackman and Hudson play Mike and Claire Sardina, a real couple who decided to form the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning and Thunder in the late ’80s.
The film, based on the 2008 documentary of the same name, follows the Sardinas as their careers rise in the Milwaukee area during the ’80s and ’90s, after which they are faced with a series of hardships.
Craig Brewer’s movie tells an extraordinary story that you won’t want to believe is true – how could one couple suffer so many tragedies? – but the filmmaking team has assured viewers that everything we see actually happened.
It’s best to go into this film knowing as little as possible about the Sardinas so you can truly experience the shocking moments along with your fellow cinemagoers. Brace yourself: it gets pretty dark and bleak.
The highlights of the film are the rehearsal and performance scenes. Jackman and Hudson are charismatic, entertaining performers individually so it’s no surprise that they’re electric together.
You don’t have to be a fan of Neil Diamond’s songs to enjoy their renditions, although you may appreciate the music more if you know more than Sweet Caroline!
The stand-out is Hudson, who has the more difficult part due to Claire’s accent and physical disability. Claire is chipper and upbeat in the beginning, which is typically how we’re used to seeing Hudson, but she later faces mental health struggles, which gives us the star an opportunity to show off her dark and serious side.
Some people may have an issue with the pacing and runtime, but you could argue that it needs to be 132 minutes because there’s so much ground to cover with the Sardinas and the major moments can’t be quickly glossed over.
From the outside, you might wonder why two seemingly normal tribute performers deserve a biographical drama, but once you’ve seen this moving crowd-pleaser, you’ll know that the Sardinas’ extraordinary lives absolutely warrant it. You couldn’t make this story up!
In cinemas from New Year’s Day.
By Hannah Wales.
© Cover Media