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Review: ‘Sing 2’ — A wild encore

Published:Friday | December 31, 2021 | 12:10 AMDamian Levy/Gleaner Writer
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From left: Gunter, voiced by Nick Kroll; Buster Moon, voiced by Matthew McConaughey and Ash, voiced by Scarlett Johansson from the animated film ‘Sing 2’.
AP
From left: Gunter, voiced by Nick Kroll; Buster Moon, voiced by Matthew McConaughey and Ash, voiced by Scarlett Johansson from the animated film ‘Sing 2’.
A scene from the animated film ‘Sing 2’.
AP
A scene from the animated film ‘Sing 2’.
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The first Sing was something of a no-brainer. Bright and colourful designs of talking animals who dance and sing to some of the most popular radio hits. The surprise of the original wasn’t so much its success, but with how good it turned out to be with solid direction and characters you couldn’t help but root for. The original movie captivated audiences so much that the powers that be have granted us a sequel.

After a successful show in the first film, Buster Moon’s troupe set their sights on the city of lights. Armed with a dream in their pocket and a whole lot of pluck, the group manages to get themselves in front of a ruthless producer looking for the next big thing. After Buster makes a bevvy of promises he has no clue how to keep, they get their shot. Now all they have to do is secure a performance from the reclusive music legend that went into hiding decades ago.

COMPELLING ENERGY

Right off the bat, Sing 2 has much more compelling energy than its predecessor. The stakes are much higher, and that extends to each of the characters in the film. While they all had a fair bit of growth in the last film, the sequel puts them through the performing arts ringer. Learning to sing in front of a crowd is one thing, but singing while suspended 25 feet in the air is quite another.

The movie gives each ensemble member a plight to overcome, but it does so at its own expense. At under two hours, the movie has a lot of ground to cover, and not all of its foundation is strong. Bono lends his voice to the mysterious and reclusive Clay Calloway, and his story is touching, giving the movie a strong emotional centre. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t give Clay’s story that much breathing room, since we also have to spend time with Taron Edgerton’s Johnny learning how to dance. The movie jumps around so much to its A, B, and C plots that it’s enough to give you whiplash.

Still, for all it tries to do, Sing 2 mostly hits the mark. The voice acting is consistent, and the animation gives way to some impressive gags and a grand sense of spectacle. When their production finally gets under way, it’s nothing short of impressive and shows some real creativity behind the camera. Top it off with a genuinely good soundtrack, and Sing 2 is a sequel that impresses.

Rating: Half-Price

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.