Life can be hard, especially if you don’t have the right connection and the right outlet for your passion. But when you find someone that helps you do those things, it can be magical. That was certainly the case with Mike and Claire Sardina, who found each other on and off the stage.

Their story was captured in the 2008 documentary Song Sung Blue from director Greg Kohs. Now, that same story is being adapted into a musical biopic of the same name by Craig Brewer just in time for the holidays. And for those who are fans of a good love story—and a lot of Neil Diamond—this will be the ticket for the holidays.

The film follows Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire (Kate Hudson) as they meet. They both love to perform and are trying to find a way to make money with that passion. Both of them have kids and are both looking for a place to belong. But they have that passion for being on stage.

Soon, they come together and decide to form a Neil Diamond tribute act—Lightning and Thunder. They get a band together and start to form a calling. It even leads to a couple notable appearances in their hometown as the opening act for big bands. But it isn’t long before more obstacles arise.

Despite struggles away from the stage, Mike and Claire lean on each other, and lean on their music. As they build their family, they move forward the pair find their footing on stage.

We see music biopics as part of the cinematic landscape every year. They rise and fall based on the music—and musical sequences—along with the story. This is a true story, but it’s one I wasn’t familiar with before watching the film. I didn’t catch the documentary, so I came into this story cold.

There is plenty to like about the story of Mike and Claire. They are endearing figures who found each other and found their passion come alive on stage. The music, mostly classic Diamond songs, is also familiar and comforting to audiences. And Jackman and Hudson do a nice job of bringing these people to life on screen.

Brewer has experience with music on screen. He served as the director for Hustle & Flow, the re-make of Footloose, and episodes of the TV series Empire. And this film is at its best during the concert sequences. It trades on the nostalgia of the songs and the charisma of its two leads and transports you to these shows.

While the ad campaign is built on those performance pieces, much of the movie takes place off stage. There is a hard turn near the mid-point owing to a traumatic event in their lives. That slows the pace quite a bit and pulls it away from the place where I think it soars the most. Then, in the Third Act, the ending will certainly leave some people with questions.

If you’ve seen the documentary, you’re prepared for where the story goes. If you’re coming into it cold, this is a somewhat different experience as a film than the story in the trailer. It’s still got its moments, but it doesn’t totally come together for me.

Song Sung Blue opens nationwide on Christmas Day.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.