Sing 2 (2021)

Directed by Garth Jennings (The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)
Starring Matthew McConaughey (The Dark Tower), Reese Witherspoon (A Wrinkle in Time), Scarlett Johansson (Isle of Dogs), Taron Egerton (Kingsman), Bobby Cannavale (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Tori Kelly (Sing), Nick Kroll (The Secret Life of Pets 2), Pharrell Williams (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping), Halsey (Teen Titans GO! to the Movies), Chelsea Peretti (Game Night), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Eric André (The Mitchells vs. the Machines), Adam Buxton (feature debut), Garth Jennings, Peter Serafinowicz (The Phantom Menace), Jennifer Saunders (Shrek 2), Nick Offerman (The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part) and Bono (Across the Universe)

The heroes of Sing – impressario Buster Moon (McConaughey) and his assistant Miss Crawley (Jennings), singers Meena (Kelly) and Johnny (Egerton), dancer Gunter (Kroll) and triple-threat Rosita (Witherspoon) – are enjoying a string of theatrical successes under the watchful eye of patron Nana Noodleman (Saunders), but dream of translating their show from the New Moon to the bright lights of Redshore City. Talent scout Suki (Peretti) tells Buster that they would not make it in the Vegas-like Redshore, but Moon decides to take the troupe, plus budding rock star Ash (Johansson), and basically break into closed auditions for hotel and theatre magnate Jimmy Crystal (Cannavale). When Crystal rejects their show, Moon and Gunter spontaneously pitch an ambitious sci-fi musical and end up contracted to produce the show in three weeks and make good on Moon’s false assurances that he can secure not only the rights to the songs of reclusive rock legend Clay Calloway, but also Calloway’s personal participation.

As Moon tries to focus Gunter’s creative energy and coax his cast out of their comfort zones – Rosita is given an aerial number, Johnny a dance fight, and Meena a romantic scene – Miss Crawley fails to talk to Calloway (Bono). Under pressure from Crystal, Moon replaces the acrophobic Rosita in the lead role with Crystal’s daughter Porsha (Halsey), only to discover that while she can sing and dance, she cannot act. Johnny clashes with martinet dance instructor Klaus Kickenklober (Buxton) who thinks he has no business dancing, and Meena struggles to find any chemistry with her vain dance partner Darius (Andre). Inevitably, Crystal learns that Calloway has not signed on for the show, and threatens to kill Moon if he does not deliver.

Johnny finds his rhythm with the help of street dancer Nooshi (Wright), while Meena’s romantic side is brought out on meeting ice-cream vendor Alfonso (Williams). Moon swaps Rosita and Porsha’s roles, leading the latter to believe she has been fired. Ash connects with Calloway and persuades him to take a chance on the show, but Crystal still decides to throw Moon off a roof. Suki helps Moon escape and advises him to get out of town, but a pep talk from Calloway encourages the group to risk everything on one final throw of the dice, effectively stealing the theatre for a single, free show. Johnny calls his dad (Serafinowicz) and his gang – now doing community service – to provide security, while Rosita’s husband Norman (Offerman) and their twenty-five children cause a distraction. Meena pictures Alfonso in Darius’ place and not only nails her performance, but finds the nerve to finally speak to Alfonso. Kickenklober tries to sabotage Johnny to prove he is no dancer, but with Nooshi’s support, Johnny overcomes his instructor and wins his respect. Porsha absolutely slays a song and dance role, and Rosita overcomes her nerves and not only carries the show, but saves Moon when Crystal throws him off a gantry. Finally, Ash leads Calloway onto the stage to reclaim the spotlight.

The show is a hit, and Suki turns her boss in for being an attempted, or possibly multiple, murderer. The show moves to another theatre as the team achieve their dreams.

What’s wrong with it?

As part of the transition to Wonderland, Meena quickchanges from her street clothes into an Alice dress, which is kind of weird since the point of the Alice dress was that it was Alice’s street clothes (inasmuch as a Victorian clergyman’s daughter spent any time on the ‘street.’)

If the film can be resolved by having the villain arrested for doing actual murders, it feels odd that this option was never put on the table before.

Moon is somewhat dismissive of Meena’s reticence to have her actual first kiss on stage in front of hundreds of strangers with a man she doesn’t even like much. This is not a minor concern, and it would have been nice to see him make some adjustments to actually help her feel more comfortable.

What’s right with it?

We know they’re good, because no-one on this seven hour bus ride gets pissed off with their shenanigans.

Sing 2 is another sweet, lively, likeable jukebox musical.

The scope and scale of the animation is stonishing, akin to Zootopia or The Lord of the Rings.

The presentation of Clay’s loss is a neat piece of visual storytelling. We are told that he lost his wife, but the details are only laid out in a single ‘take,’ which follows him down the stairs past a wedding photo and other images of the couple together, ending with a shot at a party with his wife, Ruby, in a wheelchair, before dropping to the closet by the front door where the wheelchair is still tucked away.

I like that Porsha comes good at the end. It feels important that ‘follow your dreams, whoeever you are,’ doesn’t exclude the poor little rich girl.

How bad is it really?

“What if Simon Cowell, but he’s the mob?”

If it isn’t quite as amazing as Sing – and it isn’t; the songs are good, but nothing pops like Egerton’s I’m Still Standing, and while the increase in the scale of the animation is technically breathtaking, the pace of the film doesn’t lend itself to appreciating the scope – the sequel is still a delightful confection that delivers heartwarming ensemble comedy and occasional mild peril.

Best bit (if such there is)?

Lion is an interesting choice for the not physically imposing Bono’s screen avatar, but damned if it doesn’t match his speaking voice.

The heist scene was always going to win my heart, with the different elements coming together, with everything on the table except Buster saying ‘let’s go steal a theatre.’

What’s up with…?

Crystal throwing people off buildings? I get this is Vegas, but it’s not 1950s Vegas. There are smartphones and CCTV, CSI and drones. If you gp around personally throwing people off tall things, you’re going to get caught, and clearly he’s not in an ‘above the law’ type situation, because he gets arrested in the end.

Ratings

I’m not saying girls and young women should be encouraged to be shallow, but I always appreciate when a product doesn’t make the girl who is ‘like the other girls’ an automatic antagonist.

Production values – Striking animation and design are enlivened by well-chosen and performed pop hits. 4
Dialogue and performances – The cast are all excellent, with both the returning players and new actors hitting the right notes. The script is zesty, with one-liners both humorous and heartfelt. 4
Plot and execution – The story is engaging, in no small part due to the characters, but there are weaknesses. In particular, externalising the main tension, whereas that in the original was between the group, takes some of the stakes out of the film. The threat to Buster’s life doesn’t really feel serious, and with the group’s cohesion never in real peril the emotional risk is limited. 8
Randomness – I do wonder if real stage production involves quite so many last minute snap decisions. 7
Waste of potential – Sing 2 is not as good as Sing, but it’s in the same field. 5