Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

Review

97min

Genre:     Comedy, Drama, Music

Director:  Brett Haley

Cast:       Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Toni Collette…and more

Writers:   Brett Haley and Marc Basch

-Synopsis-

In a bid to connect with his teenage daughter before she leaves for college, a quirky music-loving widower convinces his girl to finally give their two-piece experimental band a chance, in this music-centred feelgood indie dramedy from the maker of ‘I’ll See You in My Dreams’ and ‘The Hero’.

Having forged a fledgling indie career over the last decade or so, crafting reflective but light-hearted human dramas defined by the themes of looking back but starting anew, writer/director Brett Haley reunites with some familiar faces and introduces some fresh new ones for a sweet family drama and father-daughter tale of connection and moving on—sprinkled with no small measure of melody and the love of music.

Nick Offerman stars as single dad and struggling New York record store owner ‘Frank Fisher’, stuck in life’s rut and facing the prospect of losing his teenage daughter and close friend ‘Sam’ (Kiersey Clemons) to medical school across the country. When Sam becomes torn between California dreams and her New York flame ‘Rose’ (Sasha Lane), and Frank struggles to take the next life step with the help of his landlady ‘Leslie’ (Toni Collette) and bar buddy ‘Dave’ (Ted Danson)—together father and daughter find a way to move on, while embracing the pain of the past . . . and bonding over a musical family legacy.

At a first glance (and maybe a second), it seems like Haley takes inspiration from films like ‘High Fidelity’ and filmmakers like Cameron Crowe and John Hughes. Creating his own light-hearted dramedy with a measure of angst and a strong musical inclination, while combining the coming-of-age romantic element with more mature and convoluted love-life entanglements—wrapping everything up in a subtle and fairly mellow family drama package.

The film is aptly named and has plenty of heart, but despite the merciful sidestepping of unnecessary melodrama, there isn’t much substance at its core. Haley is making an unapologetically positive and heart-warming picture here, and despite some attempt at genuine pathos between a father and daughter coming to terms with loss and grief, this is very much a crowd-pleasing feelgood indie at heart—so don’t expect moving, heart-wrenching drama.

Yet on the flipside of the narrative coin, ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ is not exactly overflowing with comedic chops either, even despite boasting some solid indie comedy quirks and a few colourful characters. Sure there’s a reasonably healthy supply of good-natured and sweetened laughs, but not enough to balance out the slightly banal story and overly earnest (albeit subtle) drama—even in spite of the best efforts from its blue-eyed and impressively bearded TV comedy star Offerman . . . not to mention a scene-stealing turn from comedy veteran Ted Danson, in familiar territory as a frank and endearing bar owner with life experience.

This is undoubtedly earnest and uplifting storytelling intended to warm heats and tap toes, centred around an unapologetically progressive social core, telling a tale of loss and looking back but moving on, and where the line dividing father and daughter and responsible adult is blurred. But there’s one obvious element which really drives the story, and around which the narrative revolves—the music.

The musical heart of ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ goes beyond being a two-hander indie version of the Von Trapp family, with the film featuring original synth pop-rock compositions which play a crucial function in the narrative, as the way for father and daughter to connect and communicate from the heart—all while which touching upon the themes of unrealised rock star dreams, and the intricacies of the creative process. Yet despite the energy and youthful vigour of the film’s melodies, and perhaps thanks to our more traditional ‘old-fart’ musical proclivities, the songs here lack a measure of soul and integrity—and without the appropriate dramatic underpinning from the story, it all just sounds like rather bland Spotify new playlist fodder . . . unintentionally complementing the film’s plot.

Yet despite the film’s many shortcomings and a fence-sitting nature, it’s an undoubtedly endearing indie drama with its own undeniable charms, thanks largely to the talents of its stars, and in particular the unlikely but undeniable chemistry between Offerman and his young co-star Kiersey Clemons—who adds emotional nuance to the talents she displayed in 2015’s ‘Dope’ . . . and proves the louder beating heart of the piece.

Ultimately though ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ is well-meaning but too middle-of-the-road and innocuous to make an impact, struggling to straddle the line between an earthy character comedy and a poignant family drama with a coming-of-age angle. Sure it’s earnest, but when it comes to a drama which tries to deal with loss and relationships, it’s just not that honest—leaving us with drama that lacks bite, not enough idiosyncrasy for a memorable quirky indie, and not enough laughs to hold it all together.

The Bottom Line…

Endearing, earnest and well-meaning but too dramatically neutered to leave a lasting impact, ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ amounts to a quirky and life-affirming indie which will induce a few laughs and threaten to tug on a heartstring or two, but is ultimately lacking in emotional honesty and real comedic chops—resulting in an enjoyable but innocuous relationship dramedy which holds a tune but fails to hit the high notes.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Sing Street (2016)

In 1980s recession-hit Ireland, a teenager rebels against society’s norms and escapes family strife by forming a “New-Romantic” band to impress a girl in an 80s coming-of-age musical comedy from the director of ‘Begin Again’.

Directed by John Carney and starring Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Jack Reynor and Lucy Boynton among others.

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