Movie Review: “Hearts Beat Loud” is a musically charged love letter to fathers and daughters

Movie Review: “Hearts Beat Loud” (PG-13)

If you’re a sucker for a great father/daughter story but you also like a film that has the power of music flowing through its veins, “Hearts Beat Loud” has you covered. This wonderful movie spoke to me on an almost indescribable level, and it is high among 2018’s best films thus far.

“Hearts Beat Loud” stars the great Nick Offerman as Frank Fisher, a record store owner and single father who has the daunting challenge of emotionally preparing for the departing of his daughter Sam (played by the luminous and endlessly adorable Kiersey Clemons), who is bound for medical school at UCLA. As the big departure date looms ever so closer, music aficionado Frank continues to spend as much time with Sam as humanly possible, and eventually, a few customary father/daughter jam sessions result in a real-life inspired pop song called — you guessed it — “Hearts Beat Loud.” This infectiously catchy tune is an instant Spotify sensation, prompting Frank to beg his daughter to put medical school on hold so that they might give their newly formed band a chance to flourish.

Offerman is appealing in a monumental way in this picture. He’s appropriately dry-witted and super sarcastic, but he’s equally warm and charming. The moments he shares with likable love interest Toni Collette (who can also be seen tearing up the screen in the new horror masterwork “Hereditary”) are pretty darn adorable. Of course, it’s the scenes that Offerman shares with Clemons that are the very foundation of this movie. Speaking of Clemons, she’s fantastic as a young woman who often finds herself occupying the role of the responsible adult. Together, she and Offerman make a formidable father/daughter team. Their characters are so lived in and so completely genuine that you’d swear you’re watching a real-life parent and child up there on the screen. Furthermore, that’s actually Offerman and Clemons performing the songs in the film, so bonus points for that.

Rounding out an outstanding supporting cast are Sasha Lane as the lovely twinkle in Sam’s eye and Ted Danson as an advice-spouting bar owner. Yes, you read that correctly! Danson’s character, Dave, owns a bar in this film! Cheers to the casting director for pulling off that brilliant casting swashbuckle.

There’s a lot about this hard hitting feel-good movie that’s worth noting, from the organic nature of the catchy tunes on display to the wonderfully nuanced performances to the genuine relationships at the heart of the movie. Of course, it probably helps that I found “Hearts Beat Loud” instantly relatable. There was a time way back when I owned a record shop of my own, so I could really identify with Frank in a big way, not only in terms of his passion for what he does but also the struggles that come with this particular business. There’s an authenticity here that really hit close to home for me.

“Hearts Beat Loud” was directed by Brett Haley who just a couple of years back made the little seen Sam Elliot-headlined gem “The Hero.” For my money, though, this film is even better. “Hearts Beat Loud” is in the grand tradition of movies like “Once,” “High Fidelity,” “School of Rock,” “Sing Street,” and the underappreciated “Rudderless.” Haley injects this movie with gobs of sincerity, honestly, and charm, and while this is clearly a father/daughter story first and foremost, “Hearts Beat Loud” is also a heartfelt musical about life and how art can get you through really tough times. Further still, this movie beautifully illustrates that you’re never to old too follow your dreams and do what you love … even if you’re dependent on the all-consuming 9 to 5 for your survival.

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