As a child of the 60s and 70s, I could probably sing most of the songs from Neil Diamond’s expansive catalogue, from the intimacy of “Play Me,” to the high energy, sing along chorus of “Sweet Caroline” that is a wedding party favorite, from the gospel infused “Holly Holy” to “America,” (I smile when I recall an episode of The Big Bang Theory when Amy and Howard bond over their love of Neil Diamond’s music and sing along enthusiastically in the car that she dubbed ‘The Neil Mobile’) He has become part of the cultural zeitgeist.

This weekend I saw a film, that is not a Neil Diamond biopic, but rather a revelation of a story about a duo called Lightning and Thunder, who were the husband and wife team of Mike and Claire Sardina. Song Sung Blue gives the audience a front row seat for the evolution of their relationship to an unexpected crescendo. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson give life to the characters, and, yes, both sang the songs that are offered throughout the film. At the onset, he was a Don Ho impersonator who desired to be a Neil Diamond interpreter. She was a Patsy Cline impressionist who wanted a better life for her family. They meet at a carnival show which showcases singers from the past. It seemed like love at first note and their story unfolds over a few years. Mike was a Marine who had served time in Viet Nam and had PTSD that led to alcoholism. When the film begins, he is 20 years sober and is singing to folks in his AA meeting on his sober-versary. Throughout the movie, the audience is invited into various meetings. Claire is a single mom with two children and Mike has one child. In real life, Mike Sardina has a son who has made his objection to the film loud and clear. He was left out of the decision making and was not represented in the film, claiming that it didn’t tell the whole story. When the time comes to meet each other’s family, the tween and teens bond fairly easily and it takes a bit of time for them to accept each other’s partner.

They have both talent and faith in themselves and seem to be natural on stage. Their first gig was a fiasco since their agent booked them at a biker bar. They weren’t too keen on having the show start, as Mike/Lightning wanted them to with Soolaimon a lesser known song, the title of which translates, in Arabic to“hello”, “goodbye” or in the Islamic world “peace be with you”. A fight ensues and blood is shed and a marriage proposal occurs. All in a night’s work.

Their career skyrockets after having the opportunity to open for Pearl Jam and they invite Eddie Vedder onstage to sing with them. As life would have it, tragedy strikes in a most unexpected way, dragging them into the depths of despair. Love triumphs and they find a way to revitalization. I don’t want to spoil the ending, and instead, invite you to go along for the ride as sparkles, glitter, hair waving in the wind, and love all prevail.

Songs that will fill the hearts of any Neil Diamond fan.