Sing

The movie opens with an elegant sheep strutting onto a stage and belting out a powerful rendition of Golden Slumbers by the Beatles.  Among the audience is a transfixed Koala Bear named Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey).  Years later, he now owns the Moon Theater and he is on the brink of bankruptcy.  Nevertheless, he is eternally optimistic that his next show - a talent competition - will be just the ticket to change his fortunes.  Though he intends only a $1,000 prize for the winner, a typo results in flyers that say $100,000!  Among the contestants are Rosita the pig (Reece Witherspoon), a housewife and mother, Mike the Mouse (Seth MacFarlane), a self-absorbed though talented musician, Ash the Porcupine (Scarlett Johansson), Johnny the Gorilla (Taron Egerton), the son of a career criminal, and Meena the Elephant (Tori Kelly), an intensely shy but gifted singer.  Can Buster make a profit from this singing competition before the bank forecloses?

 

Buster reminds me of McConaughey's role in Fool's Gold, an optimistic dreamer trying to convince others to join him on a fool's errand.  He does the role very well.  I was amazed by Taron Egerton, whom I last saw as Eggsy in Kingsmen.  He has a heck of a voice.  Though I knew Reece Witherspoon could sing from her portrayal of June Carter in Walk the Line, I didn't know that Scarlett Johansson could sing.  The car washing bit was great fun.  "You wash, I'll dry."

 

Of course, the music is the movie.  There are lots of modern pop songs from Katie Perry, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga, older songs from Elton John and Stevie Wonder, and even some classics like I did it My Way.

 

Thumbs up!