Sing is a late 2016 release by Illumination Entertainment that boasts some impressive celebrity cast names. With the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Nick Offerman of Parks and Recreation, and Kingsman: The Secret Service star Taron Egerton, the cartoon bursts with familiar voices.

‘Reminiscent of The X Factor and other popular televised competitions, Sing felt familiar in a humorous sense’

Reminiscent of The X Factor and other popular televised competitions, Sing felt familiar in a humorous sense; the acts who sing so badly you wonder why their families let them audition, the ones who shine the brightest with a microphone in front of them, and the ones who shine a little too brightly. The loveable hilarity of Gunter in his gold-sequinned tracksuits is reminiscent of the dramatic effect of Wagner, Jedward, and Rylan. This hilarity however is not the sole intrigue; the development of certain characters works well to form recognisable emotional connections with the audience. The hardworking mother pig Rosita was especially poignant in a cinema full of parents and their children, and her moment in the spotlight was incredibly heart-warming.

‘Despite a run time that made pins-and-needles a real threat, it was a feel good experience that had me laughing more than once’

With allowances for the regular over-exaggerated comedy common of cartoons aimed at children, the movie as a whole held a sense of poignancy and hope that had me rooting for the main characters to accomplish their dreams. Despite a run time that made pins-and-needles a real threat, it was a feel good experience that had me laughing more than once. There was also the dubious benefit of witnessing Matthew McConaughey singing ‘Call Me Maybe’ in the guise of a Koala.

Phillipa Lindsay

(Image courtesy of TIFF)