Hearts Beat Loud,
Nick Offerman plays Frank Fisher, a single parent and the owner of a Brooklyn record shop, in “Hearts Beat Loud,” a winning comedy-drama from fledgling director Brett Haley. Frank’s daughter, Sam (Kiersey Clemons), is heading to college soon, but when their jam session demo tape becomes a minor hit, the parent is the one who starts acting like a teenager. From that simple premise, Haley and his co-writer, Marc Basch, weave an emotionally resonant story about indie rock, middle age, fear of change and the empty nest blues.
“Hearts Beat Loud” is a showcase for Offerman, switching from his blowhard persona on TV’s “Parks and Recreation” to play a lovably grumpy rocker-dad. With a bushy gray beard, an occasional cigarette and an ever-present plaid shirt, Frank is an instantly identifiable type. He grouses about life to local bar owner Dave (a quirky Ted Danson) and nurses a low-key crush on his landlady, Leslie (Toni Collette, enjoying a banner year along with her horror hit “Hereditary”).
Frank saves his best self for Sam, whose mother died many years ago. Whenever Sam gets snotty, Frank resorts to kindness; when she pushes him away, he perseveres. Their musical collaboration begins as a goof-around session, but when Sam reveals real writing talent and a soulful voice, Frank gets serious. He dubs them We’re Not a Band — after a snarky reply from his daughter —and submits their music to Spotify. (The film’s yearning title song comes from Keegan Dewitt.) Meanwhile, Sam has her own life to lead, one that may or may not include a new girlfriend, Rose (Sasha Lane, of “American Honey”).
“Hearts Beat Loud” could be the unauthorized sequel to “High Fidelity” (2000), Stephen Frears’ demographic-defining comedy in which John Cusack also played a record-store owner unable to face his future. Flash forward a couple of decades, and Cusack’s late-20s Rob could easily be Offerman’s late-40s Frank — slightly wiser, and most definitely wearier.
Filmed on location in Brooklyn’s industrial-hip Red Hook, “Hearts Beat Loud” is filled with perfect details and sharp observations. At a cafe, Frank shouts out loud when he hears his song on a playlist for the first time, but the reaction of the cashier — too young to remember the glory days of radio — is a polite and unimpressed “Cool.” Moments like that are what make “Hearts Beat Loud” feel like the real deal.