Sing 2
3 out of 5 Stars
Director: Garth Jennings
Writer: Garth Jennings
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Rated: PG for some rude material and mild peril/violence
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) – Synopsis: With his theater saved, Buster Moon turns his sights to taking their current show to Redshore City, the live music capitol of the world.
Review: Last we saw Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) he, along with a little help from his friends, saved his hometown theaters and put a spotlight on the talent of some undiscovered performers in the process. Never one to rest on his ambitions, Moon turns his attention to auditioning his latest show for a major producer in Redshore City, an entertainment mecca of the world.
The problem is that no one in Redshore City is willing to take Moon or his show seriously because they are nobodies from nowhere. In fact, it isn’t until the group suggest that they can bring reclusive star Clay Calloway (Bono) out of retirement as part of the show that anyone takes Moon seriously.
There’s no real guarantee that they will be able to get Calloway to agree to even answer his door, let alone perform again.
Most of the voice cast from the original film returns. There’s Reese Witherspoon as Rosita, a pig with twentysomething children; Scarlett Johansson as Ash, the guitar-wielding porcupine; Taron Egerton as Johnny the singing gorilla and Tori Kelly as Meena, a teenage elephant who struggles with stage fright.
New cast members include U2’s Bono as Calloway, Halsey as Porsha Crystal, the daughter of a wealthy producer, Pharrell Williams as Alfonso, a ice cream vender, and Letitia Wright as Nooshy, a lynx dancer.
There are some small life lessons scattered throughout the narrative that primarily address confidence, individuality, and self-worth.
Like its predecessor, “Sing 2” is a film filled with production numbers featuring animals performing the sort of massively popular songs that will in time become the background noise at supermarkets. It’s a crowd pleaser with just enough story to connect its performances together. It’s not nearly as charming as “Sing,” but will still play well with children who love the silliness of dancing pigs and punk rock porcupines. For adults, their enjoyment level will likely be directly connected with their tolerance of pop music performed by anthropomorphistic animals. Essentially, what makes the film popular for younger audiences is also what could push adults over the edge and off the Sing franchise’s bandwagon.
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