The story of a husband and wife who performed as a Neil Diamond tribute act was so dramatic, it became the subject of an award-winning documentary. It’s a little surprising, then, that it’s taken fifteen more years for their lives to be adapted into a fictional film.
Although the film features several popular, well-known songs – including a Diamond-certified hit – and a new exciting track almost every ten minutes, the music primarily supports a warm, genuine love story about working-class people, which takes an unexpected turn.
Hugh Jackman plays Mike Sardina, a Vietnam War veteran and recovering alcoholic who has been sober for twenty years. He meets Kate Hudson’s character, Claire, a vibrant single mother of two, while they’re both traveling the circuit of small-time fairs and casinos around Milwaukee. Claire is working hard to make ends meet.
She earns a little extra money on top of her small income as a hairdresser by singing songs by Patsy Cline. He, on the other hand, is a handyman who describes himself as a mix of Chuck Berry, Barry Manilow, and The Beatles. Though people often say he resembles Neil Diamond, he avoids performing Neil Diamond’s songs because he greatly admires him.
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After a first date filled with music – where Claire played keyboards and sang along with Mike – she convinced him he wasn’t copying anyone, but rather putting his own spin on things. Inspired, Mike came up with a stage name for them both, and so the duo Lightning & Thunder was formed.
A romance quickly develops, and the couple get married, happily building a home life with Claire’s children. Mike’s daughter from a previous relationship visits regularly, but this isn’t a story about musicians chasing fame; it’s a story about everyday life.
They’re a down-to-earth family who enjoy making music as a fun hobby, perfectly happy with their comfortable, middle-class lives. However, they unexpectedly gain some local fame through a TV appearance, which surprisingly leads to them opening a concert for the popular band Pearl Jam and meeting some famous musicians.
Life was going perfectly for the singing duo until a sudden accident sent Claire to the hospital. This forced them to put their act on hold and left them facing overwhelming medical expenses, making their future very uncertain.
The film requires a significant change in mood, and the director nearly loses control while navigating it. Fortunately, the two lead actors deliver such strong and nuanced performances that they manage to keep the film grounded and balanced.
Jackman quickly shows us that Mike is a genuinely likable and helpful person – someone people would go to great lengths for, as demonstrated by the support he receives from characters like Michael Imperioli’s Buddy Holly tribute artist and Jim Belushi’s amusingly emotional concert promoter. He handles his family’s difficulties with a practical outlook, a trait he developed through overcoming past hardships as a soldier and while battling alcoholism.
Hudson is captivating on screen, and her performance as a woman struggling with depression and medication is incredibly powerful. It’s arguably the best work of her career.
The screenplay leans towards melodrama at times, but thankfully avoids being overly sentimental. While it’s clearly intended to make viewers support the couple, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson deliver such authentic and compelling performances as Mike and Claire that even the most skeptical viewers will likely find themselves falling for them.
King Princess and Ella Anderson shine as Mike and Claire’s insightful teenage daughters, and Hudson Hensley is excellent as their younger son. Together, they create a realistic and believable family dynamic – something rarely seen since the days of Roseanne’s relatable sitcom.
The show also features over a dozen songs, powerfully performed by actors with incredible voices. They truly understand the hopeful message of the music, and their performances, full of meaningful glances, make every lyric resonate.
Neil Diamond’s song “Sweet Caroline” celebrates feeling good, and this movie shares that optimistic spirit – it shows that even difficult times can lead to better days.
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2025-12-27 15:05