Sing! 2, the much-anticipated sequel to Illumination’s Sing! (2016) arrived in December with widespread critical and fan acclaim. The animated film series tells the story of talented animals who follow their dreams of performing on stage. The movies are best known for their star-studded casts and popular soundtracks. Sing 2 definitely delivered in these regards, and it was met with great success, grossing $218 million worldwide. It was thoroughly entertaining and very enjoyable to watch. 

    Sing 2’s story picks up shortly after the conclusion of the previous film despite being released five years later. Theater owner Buster Moon, voiced by Matthew McConaughey, is trying to lead his cast of performers to success in the nearby big city. In the process, they get tangled up with cruel, Simon Cowell-esque producer Mr. Crystal, who makes it his mission to kill Buster. This plot is a bit darker than was expected, considering that it is a children’s film, but the movie manages to keep it light and non-violent. 

     Despite Mr. Crystal’s attempts to thwart Buster Moon’s posse, the performers work together to put on their own original sci-fi themed musical. They also must overcome the struggle of convincing Clay Calloway, a famed rockstar who is now a recluse, to join their performance. 

     Fan-favorite characters such as Rosita, Gunter, Johnny, Ash, and Meena – voiced by Reese Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Taron Egerton, Scarlett Johansen, and Tori Kelly, respectively – return for the sequel. Mike, the beloved mouse voiced by Seth McFarlane, was noticeably absent. Among the several new characters is Porsha Crystal, voiced by pop star Halsey, who added even more vocal talent to the mix. 

     The movie is jam-packed with family-friendly jokes, heartfelt scenes, and excellent songs. The plot moves along very quickly, and it is definitely advanced enough to be entertaining to adults. The music is genuinely enjoyable and does not sound like it is made for kids. The film also teaches several important lessons, as the characters learn to overcome shyness, stand up to people in power, and support their fellow castmates.

     Many students enjoyed the film. “It was a nice movie,” said junior Teresa O’Neil. “I think the first was slightly better, but I had a lot of fun watching it.” Sophomore Anthony Capitali added, “I think that it was very good and a great sequel to the first movie.” Junior Ava Schwam concurred, saying, “I thought it was amazing that each actor was actually singing; the soundtrack is catchy, and the plot kept me interested the whole time.”

     Much like the first movie, Sing! 2 delivered catchy tunes on the soundtrack, featuring covers of songs by U2, Coldplay, Shawn Mendes, The Weekend, and more. There are both recent pop hits and beloved throwbacks. The characters, voiced by some of the most talented actors and actresses, display their true vocal abilities as they cover the iconic songs used in the movie.

   Following the film’s release, it became a trend on TikTok to post about the movie. Users posted videos saying that it was a cinematic masterpiece, the best film they had ever seen, and worthy of an Oscar. 

    While it is obvious that people were exaggerating, it was still unclear to non-viewers if they were joking about a terrible movie or just hyping up a good movie a bit too much. After watching, we can confidently say that the videos were not lying: Sing 2! is a high-quality movie that exceeded our expectations. It is perfect for a joyful, family-friendly viewing experience filled with great music.