Sing-along songs are musical comfort food, and any songsmith, singer or singer-songwriter can count him or herself lucky if they stumble into one in the course of a career.

Musical biographies are the cinema’s equivalent of such comfort food, and just as inviting of the impulse to sing along. “Rocket Man” to “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” they’re as close to a can’t-entirely-miss genre as there is.

So as the “Gypsy Songman” Jerry Jeff Walker once put it, “When the chorus comes around, jump on.”

“Song Sung Blue” is a veritable “Sing-along-‘Sound of Music'” musical, not the story of master craftsman and crooner Neil Diamond, but of a couple of Wisconsin fans and “interpreters” who made his music their life and livelihood and the inspiration of their love story.

It stars Hugh Jackman and bet-you-didn’t-know-she-could-sing Kate Hudson and was directed by “Hustle & Flow” filmmaker Craig Brewer.

So, a “can’t miss” holiday hit? Pretty damned much. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And if you’re not too uptight to admit you know the words, you’ll sing along,

“Who doesn’t like Neil Diamond?” is a running gag in the picture. In that part of the world, and for millions of a certain age, you’d have to be a redneck biker to not fit in that fanbase.

It’s a true story based on a celebrated 2008 documentary of the same title about a mechanic and waana-be famous singer-impersonator named Mike Sardina who finds his muse and duet partner in a hairdresser/Patsy Cline impersonator named Claire and who finds his purpose in the vast songbook of Neil Diamond.

Mike is a recovering alcoholic who sings a Neil tune to his AA group every “sobriety birthday.” And like Claire, he hustles up gigs as an impersonator for “the blue hair crowd” at fairs and conventions and the like, where everybody from Buddy Holly (Michael Imperioli, quite good) to James Brown (Mustafa Shakir) comes back to life in between Elvis, Patsy and Tina acts.

That’s where he meets Claire, on a late ’80s night when he’s too principled to sing “Tiny Bubbles” (a drinking song) in the guise of Hawaiian singer Don Ho. Or maybe he’s just mad about his thwarted ambition. He’s in multiple bands, is well known around Milwaukee.

When it comes to being a “name” entertainer, “I should be enough!”

He and Claire flirt and give some thought to coming up with an act. He likes Elvis’ TCB lightning bolt logo, so he’ll be “Lightning.” She’ll be “Thunder.”

He gets “I’m an alcoholic” out of the way in short order. She mentions her kids straight off. They bond with their shared desire to sing, be entertainers and “pay my bills” with it.

They’ll gather a decent-sized band, with horns. And they’ll “interpret” Neil and create an “immersive” Neil Diamond show-spectacle. They’ll eventually open for Pearl Jam, whose lead singer, like a whole generation of rock and pop acts, appreciates musicianship, cherishes songwriting and knows a fun bit of pop kitsch when they hear about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Foo Fighters welcome RICK ASTLEY!

But after the “Cherry, Cherry” montage in which they see if their voices blend, the “Holly Holy” montage charting their romance and “Sweet Caroline” montage of their sudden rise to fame, tragedy is sure to strike these middle-aged dream lovers.

There’ll be complications which his daughter (King Princess) and hers (Ella Anderson) will talk out and explain to the movie audience. There will be severe tests, bad breaks and the like.

But the music, with a huge repertory of Diamond tunes used to sort out feelings, difficulties and the tests and depth of their love, carries us over the formulaic story framework and past the cliches.

Jackman, a genuine “triple threat” who could probably out-Neil Neil, dials down his Tony, Grammy, Golden Globe and Emmy award winning singing talent to suit the role. He’s a good Neil Diamond “interpreter,” not Neil-reincarnated — long hair and sideburns be damned.

And he does this to blend his voice more easily with Hudson, who rises to the challenge with her best screen performance since “Almost Famous.”

Brewer puts his leads in extreme, revealing and emotional close-ups and they do the rest. Don’t get extra salt in your popcorn. Your tears will provide that.

Brewer’s script never misses a chance to turn “cute,” from Claire’s cranky mother (Cecelia Reddett) to the dentist who doubles as Mike’s agent (Fisher Stevens), colorful fellow impersonators Shakir and Imperioli, to the in-state booking agent (Jim Belushi, a hoot) whose main livelihood is driving the Badger (trolly) Bus that takes senior citizens groups to casinos, concerts and tourist attractions like the fair.

If you’re allergic to “cute,” stay home. Otherwise, pack your hanky and try to keep your singing along at a level that it won’t drown out what’s coming off the screen. Because what Brewer, Jackman and Hudson cook up here is comfort food at its most comforting.

Rating: PG-13, drug abuse, sexual content and profanity

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi

Credits: Scripted and directed by Craig Brewer, based on a 2008 documentary of the same title by Greg Kohs. A Focus Features release.

Running time: 2:13