January 9, 2026 – Based on a true story, this movie about a husband and wife heading up a Neil Diamond tribute band in Milwaukee, WI, has, hands down, the best songs of any 2025 movie I have seen. How could it not, when it features songs by Diamond, Buddy Holly and Patsy Cline? The melodrama in the story, however, is a downer, and quite predictable.

This movie is based on another film with the same title released in 2008. That movie was a documentary about the real band depicted by actors in the 2025 movie. Neil Diamond himself gave approval for his music to be used in that 2008 film, and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam helped secure the rights for the 2008 film. Eddie Vedder (played by musician John Beckwith in the 2025 movie) appears in the 2025 movie. For what it is worth, Diamond likes the 2025 movie.

At the heart of the story are Mike Sardina (AKA 'Lightning' played by Hugh Jackman of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) and his wife, Claire (AKA 'Thunder' played by Kate Hudson of “Glass Onion”). The movie tells the story of how they met, fell in love and formed the Lightning and Thunder Neil Diamond tribute band in Milwaukee.

Mike had been a popular local musician in Milwaukee for years, playing in a number of bands, but he was not making enough money to cover expenses. Then he meets Claire in the 1980s. She convinces him to start a Neil Diamond tribute band in order to make more money. This plan works. They get married and become successful heading up the Lightning and Thunder band.

This is one of those movies that shows a happily married couple heading up a very successful band, and you get this sinking feeling that something bad is about to happen to spoil the dream, and sure enough it does. We get pounded with alcoholism, drug addition and mental breakdowns, anger and arguments. It almost seems as though the marriage is ending at one point.

This is not one of those happily ever after stories, but things get better before they get worse. Being based on a true story, it cannot be blamed for some of the bad things that truly did happen, but some people familiar with the true story have reportedly said this movie goes too dark in places. Kate Hudson is getting serious consideration this awards season for her powerful performance in this film. Don't be surprised to see her get an Academy Award nomination. She is that good.

What the movie does do well is to present some well-staged musical numbers. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson prove to be very capable singers in this movie, as well as being fine actors. Hudson performs a Patsy Cline song, “Walkin' After Midnight” early in the film. Nobody can match Cline, of course, but Hudson sings the song surprisingly well. Band member Mark Shurilla (Michael Imperioli of “Goodfellas”) performs the Buddy Holly songs “Oh Boy!” and “Everyday” in the movie.

Most of the musical numbers in the movie are Neil Diamond songs, of course, and Hugh Jackman does most of the singing on those, with Hudson and others providing vocal backing and harmony. The title song is sung a couple of times in the movie by Jackman as part of Mike's Alcoholics Anonymous therapy sessions. While the movie is a downer a lot of the time, the songs are uplifting for the most part. This movie rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff (no extra charges apply). I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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