Checked out Sing, the new Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me/Minions studio) animated movie. This is the one about the animals entering a singing competition and that’s about as much plot as needed. A plot, one might even note, that doesn’t require CGI anthropomorphized animals at all – the same script (with maybe a tweak or two) could have been told live action with humans. It’s a little odd… but only before you realize that:
A. Kids love talking animals
B. Talking animals in a movie
C. Profit
Regardless of the motivation, this is a fine movie with a bunch of pop songs old and new that works for the kind of movie it is. A talent show competition featuring a variety of characters, each with their own story lines. Nothing particularly bad or boring about any of it, it’s enjoyable, watchable, hummable, and fairly charming. I could argue some of the crime back-stories could have been ejected and sometimes there are just weird moments that I didn’t “get” but none of that really hurt this innocuous, feel-good movie.
Matthew McConaughey plays a koala bear stage producer and he’s fine though, at first, it’s a little distracting hearing that distinct voice coming out of animated Australian bear-thing. Seth MacFarlane plays a mean rat-pack mouse who croons Sinatra songs. Scarlett Johansson plays an angsty rock ‘n roll teenage porcupine. Reese Witherspoon plays a momma pig who has to make time from her 25 piglets to sing. Taron Edgerton, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Saunders, and other recognizable actors lend their voices…
Between the cost of licensing all the pop/rock/rap songs and paying the voice talent, I’m surprised they had any money left over to animate this flick. But they do and it looks great… i guess all that Minion money will buy a lot of covers of Shake it Off, Hellelujah, My Way, Under Pressure, Gimme Some Lovin’, and I’m Still Standing.
So, sure, this is an enjoyable flick. I was never bored and I liked most of the characters (and their voice actors). The songs were fun though sometimes a little on-the-nose (a snail singing, “Ride Like the Wind”? That’s HILARIOUS!). If you check it out, you’ll probably have a good time.
Score: 82