Movie Review: Sing Sing is a fun movie. The animation, the, singing, the characters, writing, dialogue is all fun.
In some ways, that's a shame, because the movie, as is, has all the parts required to create a deep and sophisticated story populated with tragic characters. It would be too easy for a family movie filled with cartoon animals to be populated by goofy caricatures. It's not. Every character has a full, multidimensional life, with their own reasons for wanting to sing, and their own tragic flaws threatening to tear down their lives (and the for some the lives of others!) Having everything work out is a given, as it's a family movie, but a couple of tweaks, film it with human actors, and there's a powerful drama at play here.
The characters really do form an ensemble, but the one holding it all together is Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) who is a combination dreamer/film-flam man. He wants to bring the world something beautiful, but he just can't.
Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) plays the housewife who is over worked under appreciated and realizes it is crushing her soul.
Mike (Seth MacFarlane) is a Vegas style star that has gone undiscovered. The moment his hopes get up, he lives the big life, which invites big problems.
Ash (Scarlett Johansson) represents the true musician who's life falls apart as she sells out to be popular.
Eddie (John C. Reilly) is Moon's layabout best friend who is spoiled and happy to leave a dull empty life, but discovers he does need more.
Johnny (Targon Egerton) is the son of a thug, and is stuck between gaining his father's approval, and finding his own way in the world.
Meena (Tori Kelly) is the shy singer who doesn't want to be a bother, but we all know has something special. (As a bonus, her elephant family are dressed in the same attire as Babar)
Nana (Jennifer Saunders) is the yardstick for everyone else, the lonely former star who sees the world as lacking, and seems happy to leave the world to itself.
That's a lot going on when they manage to squeeze in 60 pop songs, requisite fart jokes and a supporting cast that actually serve the story instead of presenting visual gags.
The downside is that the movie is too serious for itself. There is no barrage of pop culture jokes, or 'cute' moments, or jokes for the sake of a punchline.
The voice acting is great, the writing feels natural, the animation serves the story. Technically it's a great achievement. I would recommend seeing the movie. I don't see it becoming a memorable classic, rather a movie that people are pleasantly surprised to watch when they give it a chance.
In some ways, that's a shame, because the movie, as is, has all the parts required to create a deep and sophisticated story populated with tragic characters. It would be too easy for a family movie filled with cartoon animals to be populated by goofy caricatures. It's not. Every character has a full, multidimensional life, with their own reasons for wanting to sing, and their own tragic flaws threatening to tear down their lives (and the for some the lives of others!) Having everything work out is a given, as it's a family movie, but a couple of tweaks, film it with human actors, and there's a powerful drama at play here.
The characters really do form an ensemble, but the one holding it all together is Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) who is a combination dreamer/film-flam man. He wants to bring the world something beautiful, but he just can't.
Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) plays the housewife who is over worked under appreciated and realizes it is crushing her soul.
Mike (Seth MacFarlane) is a Vegas style star that has gone undiscovered. The moment his hopes get up, he lives the big life, which invites big problems.
Ash (Scarlett Johansson) represents the true musician who's life falls apart as she sells out to be popular.
Eddie (John C. Reilly) is Moon's layabout best friend who is spoiled and happy to leave a dull empty life, but discovers he does need more.
Johnny (Targon Egerton) is the son of a thug, and is stuck between gaining his father's approval, and finding his own way in the world.
Meena (Tori Kelly) is the shy singer who doesn't want to be a bother, but we all know has something special. (As a bonus, her elephant family are dressed in the same attire as Babar)
Nana (Jennifer Saunders) is the yardstick for everyone else, the lonely former star who sees the world as lacking, and seems happy to leave the world to itself.
That's a lot going on when they manage to squeeze in 60 pop songs, requisite fart jokes and a supporting cast that actually serve the story instead of presenting visual gags.
The downside is that the movie is too serious for itself. There is no barrage of pop culture jokes, or 'cute' moments, or jokes for the sake of a punchline.
The voice acting is great, the writing feels natural, the animation serves the story. Technically it's a great achievement. I would recommend seeing the movie. I don't see it becoming a memorable classic, rather a movie that people are pleasantly surprised to watch when they give it a chance.