Can Sing 2 be a sequel that the franchise to a whole new level or is it just another studio cash-grab?
★★★★☆
If you were to tell me that a scene featuring Scarlett Johansson as a porcupine and Bono as an old lion could make me emotional, I wouldn’t hesitate to call you a fool. But here I am, telling you that a scene featuring Scarlett Johansson as a porcupine and Bono as an old lion will make you emotional. That’s the kinda movie Sing 2 is.
The story is the sequel to 2016’s Sing, where (spoilers) the group of musicians prove to themselves that they have the talent that they had been suppressing. Sing 2 follows on from that. Now that they know they have the talent, they must prove it at the highest level. Enter Mr Crystal (played by Bobby Cannavale). Crystal is a Simon Cowell of sorts, the highest level of critic, who gives the group the chance provided they deliver on their promise of having legend Clay Calloway (played by Bono) perform.
At its core, Sing 2 is a movie about enjoying doing what you love. This can be felt throughout as the movie feels on par with Mamma Mia with the fun it has. The pop songs and bright colours definitely contribute, but immense joy from every performance of actors that are giving their roles the same effort as if they were trying to win Best Picture at the Oscars really comes through for an all-round fun time.
Speaking of the songs, Sing 2’s soundtrack is stocked full of top tier bangers. From ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ to ‘A Sky Full of Stars’, there are songs beloved by numerous generations, creating a great mix between old and new, and the greatness of both eras. With the songs being covers, it is important that they are done justice, and thankfully they are.
Sing 2 also has a great story, with the first movie bringing the group together, Sing 2 has its characters grow. But as everyone grows differently, the plot splits up to give each main character its own subplot. This gives each character their own space, unlike many large-cast sequels which often put some characters in the background because their story is wrapped up. Think of it akin to Avengers: Infinity War, but instead of Thanos collecting stones for a gauntlet, but here a koala voiced by Matthew McConaughey must make sure his concert is the best it can be.
Lastly, it cannot be stressed enough that Sing 2 is made to be enjoyed. It is not going to change the world, nor is it made to. It’s just a wild ride of animals trying to do better and be better. Normally an animated movie made for kids can just be classed as a cash grab by studios, but Sing 2 has heart, and will likely take a place alongside many beloved children’s movies in years to come.
I’m aware I seem to be only positive about Sing 2 and rightly so. With one of my favourite movies being Shrek 2, it’s no surprise that an animated sequel with talking animals, a top tier cast and a soundtrack full of bangers hits a niche I am fond of.
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Writer/ Director: Garth Jennings (Sing, Son of Rambow)
Cast:
Matthew McConaughey (Magic Mike, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)
Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde, Election)
Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie)
Tori Kelly (Sing)
Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Rocketman)
Nick Kroll (Sausage Party, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie)
Also Featuring: Jennifer Saunders(Shrek 2), Chelsea Peretti(Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Bobby Cannavale(Ant-Man), Nick Offerman (Parks and Rec), Eric André (The Lion King), Halsey (Singer), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Bono (U2) & Pharrell William
Running Time: 1h 50m
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
