Sing 2

All creatures great and small! The success of 2016’s Sing, the animated feature film from Illumination Entertainment, was well met, with audiences (both young and old) engaged by this cartoon musical extravaganza that emphasised covers of songs by famous artists of yesteryear and today, as well as telling a cute and heartwarming tale of those finding their voice in music. Now, years later, it’s time to “dream big dreams” all over again with the release of Sing 2. It may not have exactly the same polish as the original, but it’s still a catchy and visually entertaining sequel to check out. 

This iteration finds optimistic theatre owner Buster Moon looking for his next “big break”; gathering all of his musically talented friends together as they hit the road and make their way to Redshore City, a thriving metropolis where all the big stars and hit performances are presented. There, Buster strikes a deal with big-shot producer and talent/media mogul, Jimmy Crystal, who gives the group their chance to open a brand new show, with famed music star Clay Calloway attached to project. However, Calloway has been reclusive for years, and it’s up to Buster and his friends to persuade him to return to the stage once again, as they overcome their own personal challenges and obstacles along the way. 

Returning to the director’s chair for this sequel is Garth Jennings, who provides a familiar production that knows what it is from the get-go and is certainly amusing throughout. In truth, Sing 2 is loads of fun, with plenty of humorous bits that will make viewers laugh, as well as finding heart within its cartoon characters. The story is straightforward and is still quite easy to digest; Jennings knows what audiences want to see and provides that in spades with added grandeur and visual spectacle. The animation is terrific, with vibrant and eye-popping colours in almost every scene (even intricate background settings are expressively detailed). Of course, the songs are another big selling point and, as in the film’s predecessor, all of them are fun and keep listeners toe-topping all the way through.  

Where the movie does drag is in its originality, somewhat recycling similar scenes and ideas from the original and giving a sense of déjà vu in a few parts (including the grand musical finale). It’s all familiar and works for the feature’s music’s presentation, but the movie is played a bit too safe, making it more of a “comfort watch” than something bolder with more originality.  

Naturally, the voice talents involved are terrific and full of cartoon energy to make the film’s various players come to life in such vibrant ways. Many of the stars from the earlier version come back to reprise their roles, including McConaughey, Witherspoon, Kelly, Kroll and Egerton. In addition, Sing 2 allows newcomers into the mix, with the likes of Bobby Cannavale, Letitia Wright, Halsey and U2’s Bono, who make their own personal mark on the sequel alongside the colourful characters they portray. The voicework is once again solid across the board, the only disappointing part being that some of the roster of characters get more time to shine than others, with a few ideas feeling trimmed down while others are overstuffed.

Overall, this animated sequel is what one would expect and, while it doesn’t reinvent itself in this second outing, the movie still finds its lyrical rhythm of vibrant animation, solid voicework and catchy music for a fun and a entertaining viewing experience for all ages. Short answer: those who liked the first film will like Sing 2. 

Jason Kerin

Sing 2 is released nationwide on 28^th January 2022.

Watch the trailer for Sing 2 here: