Movie Review: "Hearts Beat Loud"

Always sing your heart out!

Whenever I think about Nick Offerman, the first thing that comes to my mind is his no-nonsense character on Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson. Hearts Beat Loud brings out a more enthusiastic side of Nick Offerman.

He plays a record-store owner named Frank Fisher, who wants to start a band with his daughter, Sam Fisher. Kiersey Clemons brings a lot of maturity to her character, Sam, as she faces an ongoing tug-of-war between academics and music.

She aspires to pursue a pre-med major at the University of California, Los Angeles. Frank's passion for music frustrates Sam, but Frank keeps encouraging her to record some catchy hit singles with him. I might add that these tunes have the potential to turn this father-daughter powerhouse into a household name. He even goes so far as to buy a really expensive sampler for recording more music.

In fact, this movie's title is actually a hit song that Sam wrote. They end up recording it as the duo, We're Not A Band. Without Sam's knowledge, Frank uploads "Hearts Beat Loud" onto the Internet, and it becomes a sensation on Spotify. It is priceless to watch his face light up out of excitement when he hears this song in a coffee shop. I honestly cannot blame him for how happy he feels about this achievement.

Music is the one thing that gives Frank joy as everything around him changes. Not only is his daughter ready for college, but he also decides to sell his record store, Red Hook Records. Amidst this sudden change, Sam decides to perform one final show with her father. The ending will make you tap your feet and sing along as Frank and Sam play an electrifying, uplifting set of original songs, like "Everything Must Go" and "Blink (One Million Miles)."

You never know—you might even start your own band with loved ones in your life after watching their swansong performance. Hearts Beat Loud revels in indie culture, which should be appealing to music fanatics. Seeing so many vinyl records in one place makes me look back on the magic of other movies that celebrate music like High Fidelity and Almost Famous.

It also dares you to pursue your dreams, even if it seems almost impossible. The memories that Same and Frank make as a father and a daughter are what makes this movie so fun and irresistible. Hearts Beat Loud exemplifies how music finds a way to bring people together, even if everyone has different interests and goals. Such a universal theme will stay with you just like a catchy, timeless song that is played on the radio on a regular basis.

Hearts Beat Loud was a popular hit at the Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest back in 2018.

Hearts Beat Loud is available for streaming on either Kanopy or Hoopla and borrowing on DVD from the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, including all 16 active Birmingham Public Library locations. 

By William Anthony | Librarian Ⅰ, Citizen Services