Song Sung Blue

Love stories are among one of the most common and most popular staples in the movie industry, and they can make for some of the best viewing when handled properly. But that handling is the key if done well, it can yield moving and satisfying films. However, if mistreated, it can doom such releases significantly. And that, unfortunately, is what drags down the latest offering from writer-director Craig Brewer, an uneven, formulaic, manipulative and melodramatic fact-based romantic biopic about the lives of musical partners Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and Claire Stingl (Kate Hudson). Based on director Greg Kohss 2008 documentary of the same name, this narrative feature tells the story of the performing duo of Lightning and Thunder, a couple ...

Mike (Hugh Jackman a.k.a. Huge) ekes out a living doing the tribute act circuit in Milwaukee and thats where he meets Claire (Kate Hudson). She is trying to support her family, hes a recovering alcoholic and its safe to say that neither are really fulfilled - until, he hits on the idea of a team approach to the works of Neil Diamond. With such an extensive back catalogue including Sweet Caroline how could they fail? Well their first gig as Lightning and Thunder is for a group of leather-clad bikers and so Soolaimon (no, me neither) doesnt prove the best way to start a gig so much as a brawl. Reconvening, dusted down and targeting a less hostile audience though, they start to achieve some success and even open for Pearl Jam. Then as she is d...