‘Song Sung Blue’ Screens at AFI Fest to Decent Reactions

“Song Sung Blue,” starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, will hit theaters on December 25, 2025, courtesy of Focus Features. The prime holiday release slot suggested the studio’s confidence that the film could break out in a big way.

Awards-wise? We can forget about it. The film screened at the AFI Film Festival last night, and the consensus seems to be that this is a crowd-pleasing film with a tinge of darkness — and that’s about it. Which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but I’m just laying out this info since there were some out there who thought it could — for some reason — be an Oscar contender. No such thing, it turns out.

That said, the film has received somewhat positive reviews coming out of AFI. The consensus is that “Song Sung Blue” is conventional yet heartwarming, according to Mashable, Variety, THR, and IndieWire (B-).

There’s a tragedy during the midsection of the film that seems to upend the narrative, and some were turned off by the sudden events. You can tell trouble is on the horizon because the film’s first half — packed with music and laughter — is almost too enjoyable for its own good. Everyone gets along, the central duo shines with talent, and their rise to local fame seems unstoppable.

The film is based on the life of Claire Sardina, and if you Google that name, you’ll know what the “twist” is. Otherwise, I won’t spoil it. Hudson is said to deliver a strong performance, and in a year where the best actress race is thin in contenders, maybe she can sneak in there — who knows.

Hugh Jackman — no stranger to showcasing his vocal chops on screen — stars opposite Kate Hudson in this heartfelt story based on a real Milwaukee couple who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute act “Lightning & Thunder.”

Unlike the biographical approach of Broadway’s A Beautiful Noise, “Song Sung Blue” isn’t a straight retelling of Diamond’s life. Instead, it’s a jukebox musical infused with his greatest hits, framed around an original story about how one artist’s music can transform the lives of devoted fans.

At the helm is Craig Brewer, best known for “Hustle & Flow” and “Dolemite Is My Name.” His most recent effort, “Coming 2 America,” received a cooler reception — as did his “Footloose” remake. Still, there are fans of Brewer’s “Black Snake Moan,” a dark, gritty comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci.