'Sing!' Animated Film Review
‘Sing!’ is a feel-good family comedy in the form of a musical animation. It tells the story of a group of animals who wish to chase their aspirations, but are stuck in the clutches of everyday life.
Its characters are integral components to the film’s ability to inspire and motivate its viewers. Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) is mother to twenty-five piglets, and struggling with the daily motions of motherhood and wifely duties; Johnny (Taron Egerton) is a young gorilla who struggles to find the confidence to leave the family business and pursue his dreams; Meena (Tori Kelly), a teenage elephant who suffers from stage fright, reminds the audience that we “can’t let fear stop us from doing what we love”; even the rejected teenage porcupine (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) leaves viewers considering how life’s challenges often delay us from getting to where we need to be. The characters’ stories are perfectly interconnected with a singing contest and a bankrupt Koala named Buster (Matthew McConaughey). Buster is at the centre of the movie - his theatre driving him to bankruptcy. Upon being hounded by the bank, Buster reaches for one last chance at saving his theatre: a singing contest. Putting the bank on hold and ignoring advice to let the theatre go, Buster sets a date for the contest and watches the animals come flooding in.
Similar to the structure of television contests such as ‘X-Factor’, multiple auditions are held, but only few acts are selected. Rosita, Johnny and Meena are expectantly amongst the chosen few, and rehearsals begin immediately. However, just when Buster thinks he has it all sorted out, his perfect plan begins to fall apart… Can Buster save his career and as well as his prized theatre?
The film’s director and writer Garth Jennings manages to create a movie that is both entertaining and eye opening in its ability to inspire, though some may argue that the action of the film is too eventful at times. Due to the number of storylines viewers are expected to follow, the film risks losing its younger viewers’ attention early on.
Although most story arcs lead towards a solid conclusion by the end of the film, there are still some questions left unanswered. Mother to twenty-five piglets - Rosita gets her moment on stage, wowing the crowd, and making her family proud. But what happens next? Does she return to her motherly duties? Or does she make the most of her newfound stardom? Juggling motherhood, domestic chores and a singing career is something that would have been both interesting and entertaining to see. Could this mean a possible sequel?
Ideally, the movie should be left as a standalone film as it manages to entertain small children, teenagers and adults alike – why risk ruining the success? Against all odds though, one particular ending will have you dancing your way out of the cinema.
Complemented by a killer soundtrack, you may find yourself purchasing the soundtrack and continuing the good vibes during the drive home.
With moments dispersed throughout the film for all ages to enjoy, ‘Sing!’ provides families with a movie that’s both enjoyable and relatable from start to finish. ‘Sing!’ can be seen in Australian cinemas now, and U.K. cinemas from January 27th 2017.
