Sing 2 is a 2021 American computer-animated jukebox musical comedy film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the sequel to the 2016 film Sing and was written and directed by Garth Jennings, co-directed by Christophe Lourdelet. The film continues the story of Buster Moon and his group of performing animals as they attempt to debut a new show in a prestigious venue.
Plot
The film opens with Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) and his performing troupe—Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), Ash (Scarlett Johansson), Johnny (Taron Egerton), Meena (Tori Kelly), and Gunter (Nick Kroll)—enjoying success at their local New Moon Theater. However, Buster dreams of bigger stages and sets his sights on Redshore City, a dazzling entertainment capital inspired by Las Vegas. Their attempt to audition for the formidable talent scout Suki Lane (Chelsea Peretti) is unsuccessful, but Gunter's outlandish ideas catch the attention of the city's ruthless entertainment mogul, Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale). Crystal agrees to greenlight their show, but only if they can secure the reclusive rock star Clay Calloway (Bono) to perform.The troupe travels to Redshore City and begins preparations for their elaborate sci-fi musical. While Buster struggles to convince the grief-stricken Calloway, who has not performed in 15 years since the death of his wife, the other performers face their own challenges. Johnny trains with a demanding dance instructor, Meena navigates a stage romance with an arrogant co-star, Rosita struggles with a dangerous stunt, and Ash tries to connect with Calloway. Crystal's increasing impatience and threats put immense pressure on Buster and the team. Ultimately, they must find a way to perform their show, overcome Crystal's interference, and bring Calloway back to the stage, proving that one can never give up on their dreams.
Voice Cast
- Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon, an optimistic koala who owns the New Moon Theater.
- Reese Witherspoon as Rosita, a domestic pig who gave up her musical ambitions to raise her family, now a lead dancer.
- Scarlett Johansson as Ash, a porcupine rock musician.
- Taron Egerton as Johnny, a teenage gorilla singer and pianist.
- Tori Kelly as Meena, a shy but talented teenage elephant singer.
- Nick Kroll as Gunter, an enthusiastic and eccentric pig dancer and choreographer.
- Bobby Cannavale as Jimmy Crystal, a ruthless and powerful wolf entertainment mogul.
- Halsey as Porsha Crystal, Jimmy's spoiled and self-centered wolf daughter, who becomes a lead in Buster's show.
- Pharrell Williams as Alfonso, an ice cream vendor elephant and Meena's love interest.
- Chelsea Peretti as Suki Lane, Jimmy Crystal's sharp-tongued dog assistant and talent scout.
- Letitia Wright as Nooshy, a streetwise lynx dancer who helps Johnny.
- Eric André as Darius, a pompous yak actor who plays Meena's romantic partner.
- Adam Buxton as Klaus Kickenklober, a strict proboscis monkey dance instructor.
- Bono as Clay Calloway, a legendary lion rock star who became a recluse after his wife's death.
Production
Sing 2 was produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy. The film's musical score was composed by Joby Talbot. It features a wide array of popular songs from various artists, including Billie Eilish, Drake, U2, Taylor Swift, Prince, and The Weeknd, among others. U2 contributed a new original song for the film, "Your Song Saved My Life," which also marked the band's first contribution to a film in a decade. The animation was handled by Illumination Mac Guff in Paris, France.Release and Reception
Sing 2 premiered in Los Angeles on December 14, 2021, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 22, 2021. It was a commercial success, grossing over $408 million worldwide, making it the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2021.Critically, the film received generally positive reviews. Critics praised its vibrant animation, energetic musical numbers, and the voice performances of its cast, particularly Bono's debut. Some critiques noted the predictable plot and formulaic narrative, but the film was widely lauded for its entertainment value for family audiences. It was nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.