Song Sung Blue

I am not the target market for this film. I hate the song “Sweet Caroline” ( which is reprised half a dozen times) , am not a fan of Hugh Jackman, and do not own a single Neil Diamond record. And yet… I was largely won over by this formulaic feel good film.

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It is a film about the redemptive power of music and the capacity of the human spirit to recover from adversity. Diamonds music is ubiquitous, you don’t have to like him to acknowledge his song writing skills, and even though “Caroline” is done to death in the film, there is sufficient high quality  alternative material to carry the day.

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The true story is not slavishly followed. The two hour condensed version works, but struggles with the massive mid plot gear change. a scene where some Lynyrd Skynyrd/ ZZ Top biker fans take issue with Diamond’s “Suleman” is undermined by the fact that I would have like to have punched Jackman too.

Kate Hudson is charismatic and engaging as Clare opposite Jackman’s  Mike performing as a Diamond tribute act. The plot twists are neat, with some humorous lines and the set pieces are well done. But There is always a battle between Karaoke and schmaltz. The first act concentrating on the music works far better than the second as emotional drama.