1/29/26 – Song Sung Blue (2025) – 5-/10

Geezer pleaser to the extreme. Not just because of the subject matter and the music, but the way that the film is told - like baby’s first romcom. That isn’t to say that there are not some wild turns and emotional extremes bursting past the bounds of meet cute and tender funny love, but it snuggles itself deep in the embrace of “feel good”. Hudson does a good job and I don’t want to take anything away from her, but it felt very “you strayed from your persona, have an accent… and sing! YOU GET A NOMINATION!”. She is good, but it felt like Jackman carried the thrust of the film and delivered the emotional blows with his performance – both good though.

It’s simple, but your grandparents might like it. Unoffensive and it’s hard to hate that much Neil Diamond tunes crammed into a tight space.

I guess as long as there is music, Brewer will do it, because this feels nothing like his previous work (Hustle & Flow or Black Snake Moan). He’s got a type.