Sing!
I can not believe I haven’t reviewed Sing! yet. It’s one of my daughters all time favorites. I must have watched it over 100 times by now. Coupled with listening to the songs when we’re in the car, it is perpetually part of our lives.
I know we’re not the only family who this has happened to because my husband got a full rendition of one of the songs sung to him at day care from a child other than our own.
It’s suitable for all ages, even the really little ones. If your child loves music and you haven’t watched it by now, you’re crazy.
In this review, we touch on the plot, positive and negative aspects of the movie and also age suitability.
Sing!
Normally when reviewing a kids movie I have to go back over all my notes to remember all the characters’ names, their nuances, funny sayings and the like. On this occasion I don’t have to. I know it all off by heart.
The music is beautiful and plentiful. Even without the really good plot that existed and all the little backlines, even the music would make the movie worthwhile for kids.
The animation is tops, as you would expect, and its voiced by some of the top Hollywood actors – Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johannson.
Sing! is one of the best kids movies. It’s brilliant. It’s got singing and music and no dark themes.
The Plot
Sing! is essentially the animated version of American Idol but with a story focused around the creator of the talent contest, the American Koala Buster Moon.
Buster Moon’s father bought him this theatre as the theatre has always been his passion but he’s just not very good at running it. It seems as though he is in a lot of debt and hasn’t ever had a successful show. Poor Buster Moon.
Then he comes up with the idea for a talent contest, however his loveable secretary, Mrs Crawley makes a mistake with the fliers offering a far greater prize than Buster can afford. While the show must go on, Buster is desperately trying to raise the funds and keep anyone from knowing that he doesn’t have the prize money.
As expected the whole plan fails dismally but not before some beautiful friendships and moments are made.
There is a happy ending with all the animals supporting one another and Buster Moon has his perfect concert and his theatre gets a new life.
The characters
The whole movie is centred around an American koala called Buster Moon. He is aided by his secretary an elderly lizard called Mrs Crawley who has one eye that keeps falling out.
There is mike – the tiny mouse who is full of attitude. To be honest, he is my least favourite character. He is so rude to everyone. (Side note: he is rude but he doesn’t use nasty names or bad language).
My favourite character (yes I have one) is Johnny. The english gorilla who doesn’t want to be a thief like his dad. He just wants to Sing! I love him and his voice – it’s magic.
My daughter’s favourite is a toss up between Meena the very shy elephant and Ash the rocker porcupine.
One of the sweetest characters is Rosetta, a stay home mom who is desperate to remember her passion of singing. She is ultimately joined with the flamboyant Gunther as they take on a Taylor Swift song with a whole new meaning.
Scary Scenes
Yes, there are “scary scenes”. Mr Moon’s whole theatre comes crumbling down and the animals are inside trying to get out. It doesn’t last very long and you see them helping each other out.
There are also these Russian bears who try to find Mike because he cheated at cards.
None of the scenes are as scary as some of the ones I’ve seen in Disney movies geared at young kids. None of these are overwhelming. The scenes are accompanied by loud and scary music or dark imagery.
It’s all palpable for little ones.
The one thing that annoyed me was that the naughty little rabbits, pictured below, sing “Oh my gosh, look at her butt” and my kids picked this up and sung it forever and at the most inappropriate times.
Life lessons
Each of the characters go through their own personal challenge.
Poor Meena learns to face her fear of singing in public, Rosetta learns how to focus on herself as a person as opposed to just being a mom. Mike hopefully learns a little humility but I’m not so sure.
Johnny gets to follow his dreams of singing and his father begins to understand him.
Age Suitability
This is one of the few movies that is completely all ages. The little ones will love the music and the dance. Especially because it is all done by animals.
Adults will enjoy the humorous moments and the quality of the story.
♦
