Parents' Guide to Song Sung Blue

A moving and uplifting docudrama and love story, this movie is at its best when it leans into Diamond's music. It's easy to see why a music lover like Brewer—whose breakout was the Sundance hit Hustle & Flow—would be drawn to the Sardinas' story. Song Sung Blue isn't a plot-heavy story so much as a bittersweet character study about people who may never achieve national fame but are deeply invested in performing. Jackman and Hudson, both accomplished singers, deliver standout performances, with Hudson particularly effective as Claire, whose outlook and identity shift dramatically after a life-altering accident. Ella Anderson is also excellent as Claire's daughter, Rachel, and Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi are notable (if underused) as a trio of the couple's musical friends and supporters. And it's refreshing that the movie portrays Mike and Claire's blended family as genuinely loving and supportive, even as its members confront and overcome devastating challenges.

Like the documentary that inspired it, Song Sung Blue is a crowd-pleaser because it's nearly impossible not to feel empathy and compassion for the Sardinas as they gather friends into their band and joyfully prove that Diamond's musical catalog runs far deeper than "Sweet Caroline." The movie is packed with performances, and Brewer ensures that each not only entertains but reveals character development and emotional beats. Highlights include the climactic concert, a fun moment featuring Eddie Vedder (John Beckwith) singing "Forever in Blue Jeans" with Lightning and Thunder, and a quietly heartbreaking karaoke scene in which Mike performs "I Am, I Said" with a widowed Thai restaurant owner. Some may argue that the documentary didn't need a feature-film adaptation, but Brewer, Jackman, and Hudson make the Sardinas' musical love story worthy of Diamond's songs.