By Robert Yaniz Jr.

DAY 18 OF THE 2018 HOLIDAY BINGE

A poignant father-daughter story rides a solid soundtrack and performances to a surefire hit.

THE HYPE

It wasn’t planned this way, but this week, the 2018 Holiday Binge officially went self-aware. Within the span of just a few days, no less than three stories centered on father-daughter relationships made their ways onto the schedule. The first, director Brett Haley’s Hearts Beat Loud, is probably one of this year’s best-kept secrets. Only because of the magic of #FilmTwitter did the film make its way onto my radar. Could this musical comedy/drama possibly be 2018’s answer to 2016 standout Sing Street?

THE STORY

Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman) is a formerly aspiring musician whose record store is on its last legs. With his teenage daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) poised to go off to college, he makes the most of their time together by turning a random jam session into the makings of a father-daughter band, despite his daughter’s hesitation. That’s the film’s plot in a nutshell, but Hearts Beat Loud is really about the unifying power of music and how it can assuage us through some of life’s more difficult transitions.

THE CAST

Although still known primarily for his comedic work on Parks and Recreation, Offerman taps into a soulfulness here that fans of Ron Swanson might not expect. His character is desperate to recapture his faded dream and to ensure that Sam’s coming-of-age doesn’t make him a footnote in her life. He and Clemons share genuine chemistry, bringing a ton of heart to the personal nature of their story. The latter has yet to live up to the promise she shows in Dope, but Hearts Beat Loud reminds viewers just how underrated she is.

THE PRODUCTION

As one might expect from a film that centers on the creation of music, Hearts Beat Loud offers a pleasantly upbeat soundtrack, mostly comprised of vocals by Clemons. Still, the music never catches fire the way it does in the aforementioned Sing Street, and the subplots — Sam’s relationship with her girlfriend (Sasha Lane), Frank’s friendships with his landlord (Toni Collette) and a local bartender (Ted Danson), etc. — feel more like filler than an extension of the father-daughter dynamic that works so very well throughout.

THE VERDICT

Hearts Beat Loud has enough poppy tracks and endearing moments (anchored as they are by a pair of strong performances) to make it an easy recommend for anyone with a soft spot for movies about music and/or the creative process. However, if you’re a bit less susceptible to this kind of sentiment, Hearts Beat Loud is an effective, though not unforgettable, addition to the genre. Fathers with daughters will probably find themselves really connecting to it though (more on that front in the coming days).

Hearts Beat Loud stars Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner and Toni Collette and is directed by Brett Haley.