A jukebox sequel to a so-so musical CGI family fest packed with celebrities, the frenetic Sing 2 does more of the same with less reward. Buster Moon, the entrepreneur koala voiced by Matthew McConaughey, wants his ragtag collection of singing animals to make the big time. This takes them to a Vegas-like stage, a huge show involving space travel and the promise of getting an old rockstar – lion Clay Calloway, voiced by Bono of all people – back onstage after he has become a recluse, following the death of his wife.
The koala soon realizes he may have got into bed with the wrong business partner, a short-tempered wolf (Bobby Cannavale), whilst returning cast members like Taron Egerton’s gorilla, Scarlett Johannsson’s porcupine and Reese Witherspoon’s pig have little to do with their so-what? subplots: learning to dance a bit, overcoming a fear of heights and so forth.
Compelled to put on a show whatever the cost, Sing 2’s be-true-to-yourselves and learn-to-live-after-loss morals are old hat, though zippily papered over as the hits keep coming – this thanks to Universal Studios’ musical back catalogue. Thus we have covers of songs from Elton John, Billie Eilish and U2, seemingly the only reason Bono is onboard.
A thin, cliché-fuelled plot leaps around with little rhyme or reason between several half-baked subplots, whilst the epic show is scrabbled together seemingly within an hour or so. Despite the generous length, none of the characters in Sing 2 have enough time or indeed development to really have an impact. The film instead chooses to pack itself with songs for no reason, making the whole affair seem like a joyless karaoke party with lots of animals.
Dir: Garth Jennings (U) (110 mins)
Released in cinemas on Fri 28 Jan
words KEIRON SELF
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