Review Sing Movie Hit With Kids, Parents

Movies


Viewers of all ages will be singing your way home after seeing this brilliant family friendly movie during the holidays. Sing, the animation comedy family music feature film released in theaters December 21, 2016 by Universal Pictures, is brought to the big screen by Illumination. 

Sing Movie from Universal Pictures Opens for the Holidays

The new movie Sing is from the same talented creative dream team which wowed viewers in recent blockbusters such as The Secret Life of Pets, Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, the second highest grossing animated movie ever.

There is a lovable animal character -- complete with human flaws and gifts -- for each of us to discover and relate to in Sing. Sitting in a Century City theater with my friends Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein of The Moms, who invited a group of L.A. bloggers to an advanced screening of this film, I was immediately drawn in to the plot. 

Denise Albert & Melissa Gerstein, The Moms, flank me at the theater

Shortly after the movie begins, if you are like me, you will also get pleasantly lost in the fabulous musical score that pairs with the screen action so eloquently voiced by an all-star cast of actors and actresses you'll immediately recognize.

Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon at SING premiere

The film stars Academy Award winners Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. Joining them in other leading roles are Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton and Grammy Award-nominated Tori Kelly. This is the first collaboration between writer/director Garth Jennings (Son of Rambow) and Illumination founder/CEO Chris Meledandri.

Much like the animated hit movie Zootopia, Sing takes place in a human-like world where only animals live. As the film opens, we are introduced to Buster Moon (McConaughey), a koala who inherited an old theater from his family and that is now failing. 

Fearing that this family legacy will be lost forever, he jumps into high gear to produce the world's greatest animal singing competition, American Idol-style. Once word gets out that there's a singing contest to enter with a big money prize to win, hundreds of all types of animals show up to audition. 

Photo bombing my onscreen fave Reese Witherspoon

Competition is stiff and in the end Buster narrows it down to five contestants: Mike the mouse (MacFarlane), a con-man who also sings; Meena the elephant (Kelly), a super shy teen with the voice of an angel who is wrought with stage fright, Rosita the pig (Witherspoon), an overloaded mother tending to a litter of 25 kid piglets while her husband is out all day at work; Johnny the gorilla (Egerton), a gangster who is caught up in a family of felons and wants to turn honest; and Ash the porcupine (Johansson) a punk-rocker trying break free of her arrogant, controlling boyfriend to go solo.

As the mom of four kids born within a year including triplets as well as the wife of a busy doctor working long hours at the hospital while I had four in diapers at home, it was easy for me to see who I could most relate to: Rosita, the mommy piggy. Like her, though I love my kids what I really wanted to do was go out and work to use my gifts and have a fulfilling experience beyond being a mother.

Steve Wonder sings at the Sing premiere

Set to the tunes of more than 65 hit classical songs spanning many decades and music genres, from Frank Sinatra's My Way to The Beatles medleys Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight performed by Jennifer Hudson to an original song Faith, by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, each competitor as well as Buster face challenges along the way. 

This is a movie not only about the end result, Buster and the other characters learn, it's also the journey toward reaching for and realizing your dreams. An upbeat picture, this would be a wonderful way to enjoy some quality time with your children, and perhaps their grandparents, during Christmas and Hanukkah this year.

Singing in honor of #SingMovie being released TODAY! Had so much fun working on this film, excited to hear what y'all think! 🎤🐷 @singmovie pic.twitter.com/Dn0ZS3vh1B

— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) December 21, 2016

Sing is in theaters now nationwide. Keep up to date on all the latest news by following the film on the official site as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The movie Sing is in Theaters Now

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert was invited by The Moms to a special advance screening of this movie to facilitate this review. No payment or other compensation was received in connection with this post and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.