‘Song Sung Blue’ review: Story of Neil Diamond tribute act is a gem

If you do not know the story of Lightning & Thunder, you’d be forgiven for assuming the saga of the Milwaukee-based husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute act in the 1990s was the stuff of fiction.

But, no, the highs and decidedly down lows of Mike and Claire Sardina were chronicled in the 2008 documentary “Song Sung Blue.” While the new narrative film of the same name takes the usual liberties with the facts, it’s easy to see why this story so often has been described as “stranger than fiction.”

In theaters on Christmas Day, this is one extended song that, after sucking you in with a catchy hook, changes the tenor, the tone, the tempo and straps you in for a ride on an emotional roller coaster. And, thanks to the performances of its leads, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, as well as the deft touches of its writer and director, Craig Brewer, the film makes this transition seamlessly.

It is, to borrow the title of a Neil Diamond song, a beautiful noise.

Jackman’s Mike, aka Lightning, gets one of the better cinematic introductions in recent memory, which fills us in on the state of his play: He’s performing as the only “honky” in an otherwise all-Black band with a regular gig at a dive that on Wednesdays offers free hot dogs. And when the music stops, he says, he’s just another drunk. To be fair, this military veteran, who also works as a mechanic, has been sober for 20 years.

He loves being Lightning. Fisher Stevens’ Dave Watson, his manager — and dentist — even makes him a replacement tooth bearing a lightning bolt, which he eagerly accepts.

Obviously, though, the music career is not going gangbusters, and Mike soon backs out of an evening of musical impersonations when he decides he simply can’t be Don Ho for the night and play “Tiny Bubbles.” He’s Lightning — that should be enough for people, he believes.

The night isn’t a complete bust, however: He meets Hudson’s Claire Stengl, a part-time hairdresser there to do her best Patsy Cline, and the pair proceed to hang out and click.

Mike is a huge admirer of Diamond, to the point where being a tribute singer doing his music seemed too distasteful. However, he loves her idea that he’d be more of an “interpreter” of the musical great. She, in turn, loves when he suggests they play as Lightning & Thunder — and that SHE’S Thunder — and rewards him with a big kiss.

They get hitched and start to make a name for themselves in Milwaukee, with help from folks including Buddy Holly-impersonator-turned-guitarist Mark Shurilla (Michael Imperioli of “The Sopranos”), James Brown impersonator Sex Machine (Mustafa Shakir) and another manager — and bus driver —Tom D’Amato (a colorful Jim Belushi).

And they enjoy a very special night courtesy of Eddie Vedder (a not-so-convincing John Beckwith), frontman of the then-rising grunge-rock act Pearl Jam and a fellow Diamond fan.

Then comes that tempo change and the ride on that emotional roller coaster that characterizes the rest of “Song Sung Blue.”

Recently nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy for her work in the movie, Hudson (“Almost Famous”) is compelling in what proves to be a demanding role. And that’s not just because it requires singing, a skill she has demonstrated in 2009’s “Nine” and last year’s “Glorious.”

Meanwhile, Jackman — surely best known for portraying Marvel mutant Wolverine in myriad movies but also a music-theater veteran and a star of the 2012 movie-musical version of “Les Misérables” — is perfect as Mike. He has the showmanship and vocal chops the role demands. Aside from that, he exquisitely delivers a couple of heartfelt lines that, if you’re the type, may bring some tears.

Another supporting player, Ella Anderson (“The Boss”), is impactful as Rachel Cartwright, Claire’s daughter from her previous marriage, who goes from not wanting to meet Mike to growing close enough to him to call him “Papa.”

We wish Brewer would have found a bit more to do with Hudson Hensley, who plays Rachel’s younger brother, Dayna, and recording artist King Princess, as Angelina Sardina, Mike’s daughter from his earlier marriage. Brewer mines some joy from the bond quickly formed by the similarly aged Rachel and Angelina, but we think there was more there to be unearthed.

That said, “Song Sung Blue” is really strong work from Brewer (“Hustle & Flow,” “Dolemite Is My Name”). It’s not easy to execute the tonal shifts found in this film, but he handles them well both in his writing and direction.

Throughout this journey, Mike is determined to show others that there is much more to Diamond’s career than the fun-to-sing “Sweet Caroline,” and the movie accomplishes this despite not being a biopic about the artist.

Ultimately, “Song Sung Blue” is about the love between a man and a woman — a passionate musician and his “Cracklin’ Rosie” — and it’s a love story that shines like a diamond.

‘Song Sung Blue’

Where: Theaters.

When: Dec. 25.

Rated: PG-13 for thematic material, some strong language, some sexual material and brief drug use.

Runtime: 2 hours, 12 minutes.

Stars (of four): 3.5.