focus on the family movie review sing 2

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Common sense media reviewers.

Star-filled sequel has nonstop tunes, mild violence.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Offers lessons in teamwork and perseverance -- as

Encourages teamwork, honesty, persevering to overc

Buster is dedicated to following his dream but als

On screen, characters are a diverse group of anima

Slapstick violence and threats, but no serious/las

A married couple embraces and briefly kisses. Meen

Insults include "stupid," "loser," "idiot," "freak

Nothing in the movie, but plenty of tie-in merchan

Parents need to know that Sing 2 is the sequel to 2016's popular animated musical comedy Sing . Matthew McConaughey returns as the voice of Buster Moon, the starry-eyed koala theater director who, this time around, tries to stage a show at the glamorous Crystal Theater. But it will only work if he can…

Educational Value

Offers lessons in teamwork and perseverance -- as well as a bit of how showbiz works.

Positive Messages

Encourages teamwork, honesty, persevering to overcome personal and professional challenges. Like first movie, emphasizes following your dreams (though some methods used to get there aren't always ethical), but also focuses on dealing with loss, disappointment, grief.

Positive Role Models

Buster is dedicated to following his dream but also lies to reach that dream. He cares for his cast and friends but doesn't always listen to their challenges. Meena learns to come out of her shell a bit, talk to new people. Rosita gets over her fears. Johnny stands up for himself. Clay Calloway rediscovers his love of music. Jimmy Crystal is self-absorbed, cruel.

Diverse Representations

On screen, characters are a diverse group of animated animals, but main voice actors are mostly White (with exception of Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Eric André). Female characters have agency and value, are in the spotlight as much as male characters.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Slapstick violence and threats, but no serious/lasting injuries. Animals get electrocuted. Buster is nearly killed more than once: nearly thrown off a balcony in one scene; in another, he's pushed off a ledge but saved. Someone is temporarily kept locked in a cage. Dance-style stage fighting with a weapon turns aggressive during the live show. A weapon that looks like a gun (but isn't) is used. Miss Crawly's eye pops out from time to time. A few conversations involve a supporting character's grief over the loss of his dead wife.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A married couple embraces and briefly kisses. Meena develops feelings for a boy she meets. A character's nakedness is implied but unseen by viewers (the characters see it). A dance move to "thrust" is suggestive but likely to be picked up only by older viewers.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Insults include "stupid," "loser," "idiot," "freak," "rubbish," "terribly bad," "clearly poor," "go to heck," "dumb."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Nothing in the movie, but plenty of tie-in merchandise/promotions.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Sing 2 is the sequel to 2016's popular animated musical comedy Sing . Matthew McConaughey returns as the voice of Buster Moon, the starry-eyed koala theater director who, this time around, tries to stage a show at the glamorous Crystal Theater. But it will only work if he can convince the biggest pop star in the world ( Bono , in his animation debut) to come out of retirement. Characters use some insult words ("stupid," "loser," etc.), there are moments of slapstick action, and a couple of scenes are violent/scary, like when a main character is nearly thrown off a balcony and later is actually pushed off a ledge (but saved at the last minute). A few conversations involve a supporting character's grief over the loss of his dead wife. A married couple kiss and embrace briefly, and two different characters flirt with love interests. Like the original, the sequel features dozens of hit classic and contemporary songs and has themes of teamwork, perseverance, and following your dreams. Most of the original cast members reprise their roles, including Reese Witherspoon , Nick Kroll , Scarlett Johansson , Tori Kelly , and Taron Egerton . New additions Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams , Halsey , Eric André , and Chelsea Peretti help round out the cast. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (49)
• Kids say (79)

Based on 49 parent reviews

Too dark for my kids - it upset them

What's the story.

In SING 2, talent scout dog Suki Lake ( Chelsea Peretti ) tells theater director koala Buster Moon ( Matthew McConaughey ) that his production isn't exciting enough to merit a spot at the internationally renowned Crystal Theater in Vegas-like "entertainment capital" Redshore City. Buster disregards her criticism and takes his ensemble -- piano-playing balladeer gorilla Johnny ( Taron Egerton ), teen pop-singing elephant Meena ( Tori Kelly ), and pig pals Gunter ( Nick Kroll ) and Rosita ( Reese Witherspoon ) -- on a road trip to audition for the intimidating Mr. Crystal ( Bobby Cannavale ), a prominent producer wolf. A misunderstanding makes Crystal believe that Buster has secured the involvement of Clay Calloway ( Bono ), one of the world's biggest pop stars, to come out of retirement for the musical extravaganza, so he agrees to hire Buster and his crew. Buster enlists porcupine rocker Ash ( Scarlett Johansson ) to help him track down Clay and convince him to be part of the new show. Meanwhile, the original cast deals with learning new skills for Buster's ambitious dream project.

Is It Any Good?

Likely to amuse young viewers, this well-animated if predictable sequel is propelled by another medley of eclectic song covers. Although Sing 2 isn't on par, animated-movie-sequel-wise, to Toy Story 2 , Despicable Me 2, or Ice Age 2 , those who loved the original's music-video quality and are ready for more of the same will find plenty of tracks to play "name that tune" with throughout the movie. The intergenerational song selections range from Gen X favorites like Prince ("Let's Go Crazy") and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ("Heads Will Roll") to oldies ("Your Song," "Say a Little Prayer") to contemporary hits like those from The Weeknd and Billie Eilish. The real surprise is that Bono and U2 allowed three of their greatest hits ("Where the Streets Have No Name," "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") to be covered in the film.

The movie's plot is uneven, particularly since it recycles some of the same themes from the first movie. And the near constant stop-and-start of the musical numbers occasionally lends Sing 2 a frenetic quality that may not work for viewers who are sensitive to sensory overload. Adults who recognize most of the songs will get a kick out of thinking about how the producers managed to wrangle the rights to all the songs -- and how Bono was persuaded to make his voice-acting debut as a grieving rock legend (a lion, of course) who hasn't performed since his beloved wife died. Not all of the returning characters get fully rounded story arcs, but Johnny and Meena each have moments to shine and connect with someone new. There's probably no need for a third film, but audiences who are already fans of the first Sing will enjoy the music and animal laughs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Sing 2 's role models . What do they do that makes them admirable (or less than admirable)? How do some demonstrate character strengths like perseverance and teamwork ?

What do you think about the continued storylines for the original characters? Which character's arc do you like the most?

Talk about the song selections. Which ones did you recognize? Did you discover any new songs you like?

Discuss why the character of Clay Calloway is so sad. How do grief and loss affect people differently?

Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? How can nonhuman characters reinforce stereotypes that we typically associate with people?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 29, 2022
• On DVD or streaming : March 29, 2022
• Cast : Matthew McConaughey , Scarlett Johansson , Reese Witherspoon , Taron Egerton
• Director : Garth Jennings
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Universal Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Music and Sing-Along
• Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 112 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some rude material and mild peril/violence
• Last updated : June 12, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Movie Reviews

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Now streaming on:

Christmas-themed horror stories are perennially popular so allow me to offer up a brief but terrifying vignette along those lines. Picture, if you will, an ordinary adult-type person who has decided to spend a couple of hours over the holidays taking in a new movie and is going over the listings to see what is playing at the local multiplex. Raves for the lovely “ Licorice Pizza ” certainly make that one seem enticing, for example, as does the combination of William Shakespeare , Joel Coen , Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” They might be curious to see how “ The Matrix Resurrections ” reboots that franchise for a new age and if their tastes are a bit on the racier side, “ Red Rocket ” might be just the thing. So many films out there to choose from but after a few moments of idle speculation, our hapless protagonist is jolted back to their hellish reality and ends up uttering the terrifying words that I fear will be said far too often this season—“Okay kids, let’s go see “Sing 2.””

I suppose I should confess up front that I do not recall anything about the original 2016 film, except for a moment in which a cartoon pig voiced by Reese Witherspoon briefly sings Taylor Swift ’s “Shake It Off.” This means that either I never actually saw the original or I did and, aside from that one bit, managed to completely escape my mind in the interim. If it is the former, there is nothing in this hacky and brutally bland piece of product that makes me feel as if I missed anything. If it is the latter, then I am both relieved and hopeful that it too will quickly fade from my memory as well.

Having saved his local theater through a singing competition that brought together a wide variety of characters, each one with a dream and an easily recognizable recent Top 40 hit in their heart (okay, I took a quick peek at Wikipedia), ambitious koala theatrical impresario Buster Moon ( Matthew McConaughey ) now has an even bigger dream for himself and his troupe of performers—pigs Rosita (Witherspoon) and Gunter ( Nick Kroll ), porcupine rocker Ash ( Scarlett Johansson ), shy gorilla Johnny ( Taron Egerton ) and shyer elephant Meena ( Tori Kelly )—and that is to go to the Vegas-like city of Red Shore and put on a new show at the lavish entertainment complex run by hotel tycoon Jimmy Crystal ( Bobby Cannavale ). Although the actual audition is a bust, Buster convinces Jimmy to finance an elaborate sci-fi stage musical entitled “Out of this World” based solely on his promise to lure legendary rock star lion Clay Calloway (Bono ... yes, Bono) out of 15 years of seclusion to make an appearance.

While Buster, who does not actually know Clay, ventures off with Ash to try to get him to sign on, the others have their own travails to overcome as the production lurches forth. Rosita is set to star in the show but when she's too scared to do a dangerous stunt, she's demoted and replaced by Porsha (Halsey), who cannot act but who can do the stunt and, perhaps more importantly, is Jimmy’s daughter. Johnny gets into a “ Whiplash ”-style battle of wills with a domineering choreographer and winds up taking lessons from street dance Nooshy ( Letitia Wright ). As for Meena, her character has to kiss someone at one point, something that she has never done before, and she feels no attraction whatsoever to her egotistical scene partner ( Eric André ).

Eventually, opening night arrives for the show (which suggests “Barbarella” without the lucid plot) where everything goes predictably out of control before the climax in which Clay makes a triumphant return to the stage. This leads the audience in the film to cheer wildly and the audience in the theater to speculate as to the machinations required to convince Bono to sign on to not only appear but to contribute a new U2 song to the soundtrack as well.

In essence, “Sing 2” is little more than a cross between a lesser Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland vehicle and one of those end-of-year Spotify announcements that people post online to let others know they've listened to Billie Eilish a lot over the past 12 months. Although there are plenty of subplots to be had, there is precious little story driving the enterprise and writer/director Garth Jennings could not care less about such details. The humor is little more than noisy slapstick, the stabs at pathos are almost offensively contrived, and by building a story in which artistic success is equated with glitzy presentation it weirdly undercuts its own message regarding the singular power of music at every turn.

Instead, Jennings is only interested in cramming as many songs into the mix as possible with no other thought governing the selection of tunes other than that they be familiar. The opening, for example, takes the orgiastic excitement of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” and reduces it to meaningless cartoon pablum and that's only the first of numerous musical crimes committed here. The only one that kind of works is Halsey’s take on “Could Have Been Me” by The Struts. But since rocking out is Halsey's day job, that isn’t particularly startling.

Because it doesn’t contain any sex, violence, or bad words and because it is filled with adorable anthropomorphic animals, many parents will no doubt take their kids to see “Sing 2” on the theory that there's nothing bad for them in it. In fact, I would argue that the sheer laziness on display of this soulless exercise in franchise extension is far more damaging. The best family films capture the imaginations of younger viewers and teach them the power of storytelling in ways that can affect them for their entire lives, possibly inspiring them to create their own stories as well. By comparison, “Sing 2” serves no other purpose than to waste a couple of hours. If "Sing 2" teaches them anything, it is to plan for a future in negotiating music licensing for films—hopefully for ones better than this one.

Now playing in theaters.

Peter Sobczynski

A moderately insightful critic, full-on Swiftie and all-around  bon vivant , Peter Sobczynski, in addition to his work at this site, is also a contributor to The Spool and can be heard weekly discussing new Blu-Ray releases on the Movie Madness podcast on the Now Playing network.

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Film credits.

Sing 2 (2021)

Rated PG for some rude material and mild peril/violence.

110 minutes

Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon (voice)

Reese Witherspoon as Rosita (voice)

Scarlett Johansson as Ash (voice)

Taron Egerton as Johnny (voice)

Bobby Cannavale as Jimmy Crystal (voice)

Tori Kelly as Meena (voice)

Nick Kroll as Gunter (voice)

Halsey as Porsche Crystal (voice)

Pharrell Williams as Alfonso (voice)

Nick Offerman as Norman (voice)

Letitia Wright as Nooshy (voice)

Eric André as Elwood (voice)

Chelsea Peretti as Suki (voice)

Bono as Clay Calloway (voice)

Garth Jennings as Karen Crawly (voice)

Adam Buxton as Klaus Kickenklober (voice)

Edgar Wright as Additional Voices (voice)

• Garth Jennings
• Gregory Perler
• Joby Talbot

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Sing 2 Review: A Hyper Colorful Musical Sequel That’s Effortlessly Energetic And Engaging

Illumination entertainment’s true crown jewel shines again..

Animated sequels have to be one of the most difficult projects a studio can choose to tackle. Extensive production cycles alone are enough of a hurdle, as the tastes of the audiences who flocked to a movie like Illumination Entertainment’s Sing back in 2016 may have changed in the time since. Five years later, writer-director Garth Jennings has returned with Sing 2 , a follow-up that hopes to defy the odds that usually stand against animated sequels, not to mention jukebox musicals. What results is a hyper colorful entry that’s effortlessly energetic and engaging, as it revels in its love of big dreams and even bigger entertainment.

With the New Moon Theater thriving, and the contestants from the previous talent show forming a cast/family to keep things going, Buster Moon ( Matthew McConaughey ) is literally living his dream. That’s a dangerous place for a young koala to be, especially when he has set his sights on impressing and auditioning for the infamous Jimmy Crystal ( Bobby Cannavale ), a big wig wolf who has an eye for entertainment as sharp as his teeth. It doesn’t take long for things to get out of control, as Buster promises his cast and he can woo long retired rockstar Clay Calloway (Bono) out of retirement. 

Setting up Sing 2’s story almost feels like remaking the first film’s struggles into a brand new obstacle on the course of destiny. Thanks to the Vegas-style setting of Redshore City, some welcomed additions to the already all-star cast, and an assortment of music that everyone can enjoy, Garth Jennings’ return to animal musicality keeps the heart and the spirit of his previous film alive. That said, there are some minor drawbacks to the "bigger, better" playbook that's mined this time around. 

The jukebox is refilled with songs for children and parents alike in Sing 2. 

Jukebox musicals depend on songs that can easily be thrown together into one overarching story. In stories like Mamma Mia , the thematic structure is less giving, as the entire tale is governed by those tunes. Sing 2 , much like its predecessor, already has the advantage of only relying on the show within the show to make sense, and there’s no problem adhering to that formula the second time around. 

Mixing pop classics, a couple of more obscure songs, and needle drops from Billie Eilish as well as Ariana Grande , the jukebox in operation in Sing 2 will see adults excited to dig in. Engaging in an eclectic musical catalogue will keep everyone listening for the next new and exciting cue that comes on the soundtrack, as cast members like Taron Egerton, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson lend their voices to unique renditions of classics and modern hits. 

Johansson’s porcupine Ash gets a special honor in Sing 2 , as her role revolves around a significant addition to the rotation. As she tries to convince Bono’s Clay Calloway to come out of retirement, that subplot is used to integrate U2 classics as story fodder. The more pop-friendly, hyper colorful landscape of the adventures in Redshore City takes center stage this time around, but Scarlett Johansson ’s performance and vocals on those songs are some of the more emotion based notes in this sequel.

Characters aren’t so much the focus of this time around, as story and showmanship take the lead. 

In Sing , one of the most unexpected triumphs was the emotional motivations of the large cast of characters. Using the talent show to win us over with various attitudes and musical stylings, the focus was more on the hearts of those characters and less on the world around them. Sing 2 doesn’t discard that notion entirely, but it does shift the focus significantly away from the animal cast we’re continuing to follow.

For example, we do get to see harried mother turned stage star Rosita ( Reese Witherspoon ) personally deal with the pressures of learning a new, stunt laden show that pushes her to her limit. The conflict that arises from Buster being pressured to recast her with Jimmy Crystal’s daughter Porsha (Halsey) might have been more significantly covered, if things played a little closer to how the movie’s predecessor laid things out. Instead, that thread is more of a recurring challenge to the overall show, rather than Rosita personally. If Sing was about trying to make stars out of contestants, Sing 2 is more focused on getting the show on the road. 

Such a shift in dynamic is something that could collapse an overly ambitious sequel, as changing things up can only go so far. Perhaps that can be attributed to Sing 2 being built specifically for fans who know these characters, and can remember the previous struggles they went through. That approach still leaves this new adventure wanting for a little more emotional depth, as even the Clay Calloway subplot isn’t enough to make up for that change. 

Most animated musicals wish they had the show stopping finale that Sing 2 busts out — and many have tried.

With the show being “the thing” in Sing 2 , our characters do get to grow and develop through their rehearsals. It’s just that instead of serving their personal and professional goals equally, the balance is tipped slightly towards the latter. Pressure mounts on the actual show itself not to be lame, otherwise the huge finale to which everything is obviously leading could fall flat, killing the vibe the entire movie has been cultivating.

Energy is key, and Sing 2 has it to spare; which can get really annoying if an animated film, especially a sequel, loses its way in the story process. The greatest success to which this project can lay claim is that it somehow takes an animated jukebox musical, uses every color it can think of in its aural and visual canvas, and seizes the audience’s attention from the first number. As far as “the show,” no steps are lost, no beats missed, and the musical finale that closes it all out is a total knockout that should leave viewers smiling from ear to ear. In this component to the overall formula, "bigger and better" works like an absolute charm. 

Even something as simple as hearing Bono sing “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” hit harder than usual in Sing 2 , and that’s because the show that Buster and his crew put on at the end actually works. The visuals can be as striking as any expert animator can conjure, but if the flow isn’t there, it’s all for naught. Many animated musicals have tried to have an ending as impressive, yet cohesive, as Garth Jennings has provided with his new sequel, and the result in this one is impressive enough that fans should be left hoping the director pulls off a hat trick. 

Animated storytelling continues to progress past a point where simple stories and catchy songs are married to entertain children. Movies like Sing 2 represent this medium of storytelling at its finest, allowing all audiences to be entertained in the same fashion and experience the same level of delight. Though it may not be as deep as its predecessor, this is a follow-up that still honors the original, and tries for something new but still familiar. It works like a charm, providing an over-the-top delight that families can enjoy this holiday, before or after checking out any other big blockbusters that might be showing in the theater next door. 

Mike Reyes is the Senior Movie Contributor at CinemaBlend, though that title’s more of a guideline really. Passionate about entertainment since grade school, the movies have always held a special place in his life, which explains his current occupation. Mike graduated from Drew University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, but swore off of running for public office a long time ago. Mike's expertise ranges from James Bond to everything Alita, making for a brilliantly eclectic resume. He fights for the user.

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Where to Watch

Rent Sing 2 on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Second verse, same as the first: For audiences that enjoyed the first installment, Sing 2 should prove another endearing diversion.

If you're looking for some singing, dancing, animated fun for the whole family, Sing 2 delivers.

Critics Reviews

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Garth Jennings

Christophe Lourdelet

Matthew McConaughey

Buster Moon

Reese Witherspoon

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What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: The storyline of one character’s dead wife could upset some viewers, and the villain is intense at times and could scare younger viewers.

More Detail:

SING 2 is an animated musical comedy that follows the events of the story of the first movie, SING. The koala bear named Buster Moon finally has a thriving theater and wants to take his show to the next level, with the cast of the first movie including the colorful and upbeat performances of Meena the Elephant and her friends Rosita, Johnny and Gunter.

Although they sell out another show, Buster’s very anxious because Suki, one of the most well-renowned theater reviewers, is coming. With a positive review from her, Buster and his team could make it to the big leagues and perform in the bustling Redshore city. However, after half the show, Buster notices that Suki is making her way to the exit.

Suki says that Buster’s show is good for local theater but would never sell in Redshore City. Buster, ever-persistent, learns that Suki’s boss, Jimmy Crystal, is holding auditions in search of the next big show, but Suki again talks him down and even says he’s not good enough to succeed.

Buster is distraught. However, after a talk with the stern yet caring Nana Noodleman, he’s reinvigorated to show Jimmy Crystal a great musical play no matter what. Ash, who is performing rock concerts on the side, agrees to help Buster and her friends. After some persuasion from Rosita, the rest of the team joins them on a bus to Redshore City.

Buster is determined to perform for Crystal, but before they can even start singing, Crystal dismisses their act as boring and cliché. However, on their way out, Gunter mentions his idea for a space musical and catches Crystal’s attention with the mention of the famous rock legend Clay Calloway. Buster runs with Gunter’s mention of Calloway. He says Gunter’s space musical will also include Clay Calloway’s first performance in years.

Crystal knows that a show with Calloway will be the biggest show in Redshore City. He agrees to give Buster and the team whatever they need to make Gunter’s ideas come to life on stage. However, there’s only one problem. No one has seen Clay Calloway in 15 years.

Buster sends the faithful Ms. Crawley to find Calloway as he tries to make sense of Gunter’s ideas for the show. Buster is on the verge of putting on the show of a lifetime, but Crystal becomes more threatening when Calloway is nowhere to be seen on set. Moreover, the show’s leads, Rosita, Meena, and Johnny, are all struggling to have confidence in their roles. Buster and the team must rely on one another as they face their fears. Will Buster be able to pull off the show of a lifetime?

SING 2 is a colorful, funny, heartwarming movie that stresses overcoming fear and grief through love, family and courage. Several characters struggle with their own obstacles but face their problems and overcome them with the support of close friends. Writer/Director Garth Jennings deftly uses the movie’s music to convey the emotions of the characters, like all good musicals do. His story is also well-paced and superbly written. Ultimately, love and faith conquer fear. There are also some brief Christian elements, including a song about praying for one another. SING 2 has moments of peril, an intense, scary villain, and some minor objectionable content. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children.

Movie Review: Sing 2

Illumination has made its business telling beautifully animated stories; vocals are as animated as the images on the screen. Story-wise, they peaked with the nefariousness of Gru and his minions in the first “Despicable Me.” Villains haven’t become as fun-loving since Gru. However, Illumination reached deep into their soul (no pun intended, Pixar), and in 2016, they tapped into the consciousness of the moving going public, getting our feet to tap to “ Sing ,” where stage fright keeps a troupe of animals from their dreams. Back for a second round, Buster Moon, Rosita, Ash, Meena, and the rest of the gang are back to swoon you in “ Sing 2 .”

Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey), having pushed through his stage fright in “Sing,” is poised to put on a new show. It’s a solid production with one little problem: critics, not unlike me, shoot the showdown before it has a chance to get off the ground. Suki, the critic, says that Buster wouldn’t even make it in Redshore City. Undeterred and believing that he has what it takes, he gets the band back together (I think I need to watch “The Blues Brothers” soon), and they all trot off to Redshore City in the hopes of making it big.

Writer-director Garth Jennings returns to the stage, orchestrating one disaster scene to the next. No, the film isn’t disastrous, but the feeling of disappointment sets in quickly after being panned and coincidentally dragged across half the city by Suki (Chelsea Peretti). The opening sequence and the closing number are visually the best bits of the film. Jennings, who also voices Miss Crawly, does an excellent job of bookending the story. It’s the bits in the middle, which feel like a take on Frank Oz’s “The Muppets Take Manhattan”: we are our own worst enemy sometimes, especially when we put ourselves out there.

The passion Buster Moon feels for his works seeps into our hearts; we believe him when he says he can mount a production the likes no one has ever seen. Jennings puts extra emphasis on the supporting characters as they zoom into a Las Vegas-like Redshore City where they come face to face with Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale), the media mogul behind Crystal Entertainment, who demands a lot and takes no prisoners. Cannavale leaves an impression, and I assure you it’s not from his security guards shoving anyone. There’s a toothsome slinkiness to his character. It isn’t on the same level as Gru, but Crystal is a memorable character.

The supporting voice cast comes on strong; Reese Witherspoon’s Rosita has natural fears she needs to overcome, which leads to a conflict with Jimmy’s spoiled daughter, Porsha, voiced by Halsey. Scarlett Johansson rocks as Ash, a punk rock guitarist. Interestingly, I related the most to Tori Kelly’s Meena as she has her performance issues to overcome, attracting the attention of Alfonso, voiced by one of the franchise’s newcomers, Pharrell Williams. There’s an endearing quality between Meena and Alfonso, which the story, fortunately, doesn’t abandon.

“Sing 2” shines because it reminds us that we need each other, no matter what species of the animal kingdom or humanity from which we come. We can’t go it alone. To that end, Spike Jonze’s Jerry, Jimmy’s assistant, and Jennings’ Miss Crawly are given the most to do within the story – they both do what they must to protect their bosses.

It is where Miss Crawly is concerned. See, the production needs a big act, and only one will suffice: Clay Calloway, a lion, and a former rock legend are secluded. The story gives the details, but it is Miss Crawly who first makes overtures and an impression, driving her sports car like the wild animal she is . . . I’m getting carried away. Ash is the link between Buster and Calloway, and she steps up to the plate admirably, one of the film’s highlights.

Taron Egerton is back as Johnny, and he’s up to his antics. At the same time, Nick Kroll’s Gunter squares off with Adam Buxton’s Klaus Kickenklober (tee hee, what a creative character name!), a dance instructor who squares off with Gunter as he tries to teach him the finer points of dancing. Letitia Wright’s Nooshy draws Gunter’s attention in the right way.

Each character in “Sing 2” has an important role to play. But it feels like it’s shouting “Places!” every five minutes and drags down what would be an otherwise brilliant story. There is no “I” in teamwork, something Buster understands. Our dreams and aspirations won’t ever come true if we don’t try, and the film’s emphasis on teamwork is every bit as important as the fantastic contribution by Bono.

Buster Moon should be this story’s nucleus. The character is present at the beginning and the end. However, Garth sidelines him as each supporting character comes into their own. The focus on the secondary characters should work as a strength, but it also causes me to question Buster’s worth ethic. Was Suki right? Of course not. Buster pulls a magic act; he is the vision, and he needs his team to get the job done, but he doesn’t feel like Kermit in “The Muppets Take Manhattan.”

“Sing 2” reminds us that as much as we need each other, we are our own best cheerleaders, and if we aren’t willing to see the wolf for what it is, we’re going to get swallowed whole. It takes strategy and vision to see the dream through, something the story doesn’t lean on enough. In this case, as much as I liked Mr. Crystal and adored Clay Calloway, the film focuses too much on individual challenges and not the production as a whole.

Even though the kid in me appreciated “Sing 2,” our internal struggles are our greatest enemy; we have to push every day.  Yet, we need a wolf to convince us to move on. If you’re unwilling to do it, you won’t make it in Redshore City.

Or anywhere, for that matter.

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Sing 2 Movie Review – An entertaining and fun sequel

Once More With Feeling

Sing 2 is a really fun movie. It’s not particularly deep, nor does it reinvent the wheel or do anything differently to other animated flicks. Quite simply, this is an expansive sequel, taking the framework from the first movie and adding fanciful decorations and bigger dance numbers to boot.

It doesn’t always fire on all cylinders, and some of its songs lack the same emotional resonance the first film had, but as a parent watching with two kids, smiles plastered on their faces, this one is well worth a watch. The only thing surprising here is quite how long it’s taken for a sequel to surface.

When Sing dropped back in 2016, it banked a healthy amount at both the domestic and international box office.. It’s one of the better Illumination efforts in recent years, alongside Despicable Me, and with a star-studded cast, it certainly boasts the big names to back up its solid writing. Fast forward 5 (or 6 depending on when this has been released in your country!) years and the gang are back, bigger, badder but not necessarily better than before.

The story here largely takes the same ideas from the first – including the best jokes – and spins that into a story that tests each of our characters in different ways. All the usual suspects are back, led bu Buster Moon who itches for bigger things beyond his small theatre back home.

When an opportunity to impress an out-of-town critic goes amiss, Buster convinces the gang to up and move to the big city, determined to impress the notoriously strict and business savvy Mr. Crystal. He wants them to perform for the big crowds, and he’s the ticket to do that. Unfortunately, Buster’s promise also comes with the unwanted pressure of convincing retired rock-star Clay Calloway to come back and join them.

Of course, everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Rosita’s hopes of becoming lead star are dashed by Mr Crystal’s daughter Porsha. Johnny struggles to learn his dance moves from an overbearing teacher, while Meena is paired with a terribly narcissistic and rude singer.

There are other subplots going on here too, glued together by the hilarious performance of Miss Crawly. Her jokes are easily the highlight of the entire movie and effortlessly move between subplots and characters with great aplomb.

There’s a good variety of jokes in here too, with some silly slapstick for the kids actually given a decent amount of set-up beforehand. There’s one joke early on involving the group infiltrating the auditions by posing as cleaners. As they mop the floor, the room grows silent. Another group arrive, step through the doors and immediately slip over. Jokes like this really help give the film a bit more creativity than the usual simple gags you’d expect.

I won’t spoil all the comedy here, but suffice to say there are also some recurring jokes too that fans of the first film will enjoy. These laughs continue right the way through to the final performances. Alongside that are a decent number of songs, which largely fall into the pop category, as one may expect. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, and expect to find songs from Halsey, Ariana Grande and more dotted across the run-time.

Visually, the film looks fantastic. Some of the CGI work is actually exemplary. The best example of this comes from Clay’s mane, which looks honestly stunning. I found myself marveling at the fur during his scenes, such is the quality.

Not everything in Sing 2 works, and at times the narrative does falter. The whole Clay Calloway subplot is pretty underwhelming and despite a few nice moments, doesn’t really go anywhere. The resolution with Mr Crystal is a bit contrived too, while Johnny’s feline companion is given next to no backstory or arc, despite featuring prominently on the third act of the film. There are other, niggling problems with parts of the script but given how entertaining this movie is, it’s quite easy to overlook.

And that is ultimately the big draw with this film. Sing 2 is an entertaining sequel and good value for its 100 minute run-time. Fans of the original should love the inside jokes while those after a bit of escapist entertainment should equally find enough to like here with these lovable characters.

Feel free to check out more of our movie reviews here!

• Verdict - 7/10 7/10

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Sing 2 review: An enthusiastic sequel that frames U2 as the key to humanity’s salvation

Star-studded animated musical is so damned determined to please that, at times, you can’t help but smile, article bookmarked.

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Dir: Garth Jennings. Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Bobby Cannavale. Cert U, 110 minutes

The idea that a sequel should always go bigger has been applied – with zest – to the Sing franchise. But bigger and better? Not so much. While the first film saw koala impresario Buster Moon ( Matthew McConaughey ) hustle up an X Factor -style singing competition to save his theatre, Sing 2 brings Buster and his zoomorphic pals to Redshore City, which is really Las Vegas in all but name and species of citizens.

The scale here is nauseatingly unfathomable. A billboard ad replicates Blade Runner ’s dystopian, pill-popping geisha; an auditorium climbs to the heavens and looks as if it could house every person on the planet who ever wanted to see a Cirque du Soleil show; the hotel suites are so palatial that adults will spend most of the runtime trying to guess their nightly rate. The jewel in the crown of all this large-ness? Bono , voicing a reclusive lion rock star, who is forced into the narrative just as U2 ’s Songs of Innocence was once forced onto everyone’s iPhones.

The stakes, too, feel a little severe. Buster Moon has faked his way into the office of lupine media mogul Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale) and convinced him to greenlight a sci-fi spectacular in one of his hotels, on the condition that he can coax Clay Calloway (Bono) out of early retirement. Clay hasn’t been seen since the death of his wife 15 years earlier. But the risk here isn’t failure, embarrassment, or even bankruptcy. No, if the wolf is displeased with the results, he will simply punt the koala off the side of a building and let him plummet to his death. Harsh.

Meanwhile, the rest of Buster’s crew are preoccupied with their own micro-conflicts: Johnny the gorilla (Taron Egerton) must find his confidence in dance and best his German-accented, proboscis monkey choreographer (Adam Buxton). Rosita the pig ( Reese Witherspoon ) must overcome her fear of heights. Meena the elephant (Tori Kelly) must navigate the path of first love after she falls for an ice cream seller (Pharrell Williams) who’s just as timorous as she is.

In Sing 2 ’s defence, the film is at least enthusiastic about its own overabundance, and the new celebrity voice additions – Halsey’s mollycoddled, rich-girl wolf or Letitia Wright’s street-dancing lynx – fit nicely into the mix. Director Garth Jennings, who started his career directing the music videos for Blur’s “Coffee & TV” and Radiohead’s “Lotus Flower”, takes the approach of a clown pulling an endless line of handkerchiefs out of their pocket. Sing 2 is so damned determined to please that, at times, you can’t help but smile.

The A-list cast is largely made up of actors that we know can sing (and that we’ve seen sing before), even if their voices have been largely blotted out here by the autotune. Scarlett Johansson delivers a husky soft-punk take on “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Egerton goes big and Broadway for Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars”. Bono, of course, sounds like Bono when he sings, and the film frames U2’s songs like they’re the key to humanity’s salvation. When he acts, the animation does most of the emoting.

But the Sing franchise, at its core, is really just an expensive version of Kidz Bop. Universal Pictures has given itself the excuse to dive into Universal Music’s back catalogue, pick out a few hits, and project them out of the mouths of cutesy animals. When the flashiness is the point, can you really blame Sing 2 for going all out?

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Reviewed by: Blake Wilson CONTRIBUTOR

Animals in the Bible

Music in the Bible

The power of music to touch hearts

Prequel: “ Sing ” (2016)

A fter opening the “New Moon Theater” to rousing success, Buster Moon (voice of Matthew McConaughey) is looking to take his shows to the next level. What could possibly be bigger? Why, Redshore City of course! (this universe’s version of Las Vegas) However, a talent scout for one of the city’s theaters gave them a negative review, so should they stop trying? No. Buster and his performing crew immediately take a bus to the city, with hopes of landing an audition.

After successfully sneaking into one of the city’s most prestigious entertainment venues, Buster and the gang immediately fail their audition (along with almost everyone else that comes that day). Just as they are about to be pushed off stage, Gunter (voice of Nick Kroll) comes up with an idea that interests the judge. A science fiction musical with music by the legendary Clay Calloway. Buster reluctantly goes along with the idea, and the theater head (voice of Bobby Cannavale) gives him three weeks to get Calloway and the show together.

Of course, this means taking Gunter’s idea and putting it into a real show in that amount of time. And, to make matters worse, Calloway hasn’t performed in 15 years and has been off the face of the earth due to dealing with unexpected loss. Can Buster and his crew pull this show off?

Entertainment Value

First, “Sing 2” has some very colorful and solid animation. It’s a step up from the original in terms of overall character design and creativity, while the backgrounds shimmer with a mix of Las Vegas and Dr. Seuss-inspired enthusiasm. The overall stage show is a hoot, with several well-choreographed elements as well.

The voice acting and singing is strong overall. Similar to the first film, McConaughey portrays his character with a convincing showman attitude. Reese Witherspoon, Tori Kelly, Scarlett Johannson and Taron Egerton are also on point with their characters as well, with each one getting at least one spotlight musical moment. Out of the new characters, Cannavale portrays the villain quite well, while Letitia Wright and Bono are fantastic in their roles (though the former seems a little bit sidelined here). Halsey has a couple of scene-stealing singing moments, but her character wasn’t necessarily my favorite. Thankfully, her character does go through some maturing as the film progresses.

The story, however, as a whole, isn’t quite as emotionally compelling as the original film. The only part of the storyline that manages to pull at the heartstrings here is Calloway’s backstory, though it is lightly touched on. The characters, in the meantime, are given challenges, but they are not quite as down-to-earth as the original film. Another issue I had with the film is that there are too many songs used as background music here. It’s to the point where there’s pretty much no musical score.

However, the comedy is on point, and led to several laugh-out-loud moments. A couple of interesting twists late in the game add extra suspense as well. The pacing, mostly, remains light on its feet and quick.

Positive Messages

The film’s main message involves the importance of chasing your dreams, no matter what obstacles are in your way. Despite being told over and over that they “aren’t good enough”, Buster and crew push through until they reach their goal of having a show in Redshore City. Of course, pursuing any dream isn’t easy, and “Sing 2” shows that there will always be naysayers and those who are unsupportive.

There’s also a strong message on overcoming fear. Two characters learn to overcome their fears through the encouragement, love, and patience of others around them. The Bible says, “Do not fear”, 365 different times. However, my favorite verse about persevering in the face of fear is Joshua 1:9, which encourages us…

“Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

FEAR, Anxiety and Worry —What does the Bible say? Answer

Negative Content

LANGUAGE: There’s no obscene language in the film, but there are a few close calls. Someone is told to “go to heck”. We hear several other uses of “heck” and “oh my gosh”. Unfinished uses of “what the…? and name-calling are used also.

VIOLENCE: A villain threatens Buster on a handful of occasions, snarling at him and eventually throws him from precipitous heights a couple of different times. Johnny breaks his skateboard in half in frustration. A car crashes into a couple of places. A couple of characters are electrocuted by a fence and pass out. A character is whacked by wooden sticks on a few occasions. One is barraged by paintball gun bullets in one scene. However, other than Mrs. Crawley comedically losing her glass eye from time to time, no one is too badly hurt.

ADULT CONTENT: In a questionable moment, Meena is required to kiss a love interest in the show. She clearly is nervous and hesitant to do so, and says she would not want to kiss a stranger. However, Buster does not heed her request. Meena does, however, fall in love with a friendly ice cream vendor (voice of Pharrell Williams ), and pretends she is performing the song with him. Elsewhere, Mr. Crystal wakes up apparently naked in one scene (we see a furry chest and legs, and an assistant screaming from seeing it). A couple of characters kiss. A tiger is seen in underwear. One narcissistic character is introduced with a sultry, hip-swaying musical intro, and comments on how girls can’t get enough of him. A few suggestive dance moves.

OTHER: A few songs in the catalog are not exactly kid-friendly (“Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift and “She Bangs” by Ricky Martin are a couple of examples), but most are heard briefly. Mr. Crystal acts selfish, cruel and rude throughout the film. He threatens to cancel the show, then takes credit for it when it succeeds. His daughter starts off being very immature and selfish as well (but she changes her tune). Characters lie . A character constantly corrects another for interrupting him. One female character is given less money for a concert simply because of her gender. Someone says Meena looks like a “goddess”.

I loved the original “Sing” when it came out 5 years ago. Not only was it a fun, chase your dreams, “let’s put on a show”-style story, it also developed its main characters into ones we could root for. Not to mention, the film had standout singing performances (I listened to the soundtrack for months), some hysterical song choices, and a really solid emotional undercurrent that ran through it. It remains my favorite film that Illumination Entertainment has made so far.

Going into this movie, I know it’s hard to have lightning strike twice. Here, even though the stakes are a little higher, the overall character arcs and heartfelt themes are not quite as prevalent this time around. The character development isn’t quite as strong, and with the exception of the moving plotline involving Clay Calloway’s return to the spotlight, nothing else quite hits the mark like the first film’s storylines did.

That isn’t to say this sequel is a disappointment. It’s still an enjoyable movie. The animation sparkles. The songs are fun (particularly the U2 covers!). Characters are well-balanced and almost no one is left behind in terms of screentime. And there’s a couple of nice encouragements on chasing your dreams and overcoming your fears. Overall, that’s better than average for many (often PC-driven) kids’ movies and TV shows these days.

Parents will need to be aware of a few mild content concerns going into the film. A few song choices and situations may cause some eyes to roll, though it may go over the heads of young viewers. There’s some lying and deceiving behavior here and there. A situation involving one character being asked to have her first kiss onstage is worth noting. And, a minor plotline involving someone overcoming grief might be a bit difficult for some sensitive moviegoers.

In the end, while it doesn’t quite hit the home run of “instant classic” like its predecessor, “Sing 2” is at least a solid double from a quality perspective. For fans of the original, it’s worth a watch. For Christian families (with kids ages 6 or 7 and up) looking for something to watch together, it’s definitely one of the cleaner options out there.

• Violence: Moderate to Minor
• Profane language: Mild— “ Holy moly,” “You can go to heck,” “Gosh,” “What the…”
• Nudity: Minor
• Sex: Mild— married kiss; female performer asked to kiss on stage; some sexy dance poses
• Vulgar/Crude language: None
• Drugs/Alcohol: None
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

The Parents' Guide To What They're Watching

Animals | Cartoon | Comedy | Family

Sing 2 review

Is the sequel to animated musical comedy sing as good as the original.

Certificate: U

Release date: 2022

A sequel to 2016’s hit animated musical comedy, Sing 2 revisits the cuddly animals who just want to put on a show, and takes them on the road to the Las Vegas-like Redshore City.

Koala Buster Moon (McConaughey) is dreaming of big things for his collection of singing stars – including pig Rosita (Witherspoon), rock porcupine Ash (Johansson), gorilla Johnny (Egerton) and elephant Meena (Kelly) – so convinces media mogul wolf Jimmy Crystal (Cannavale) that they can produce an amazing sci-fi musical for his casino. Crystal is only interested if Buster can get legendary – and reclusive – rock star Clay Calloway (Bono) to star, and Buster soon realises that Crystal will be very unhappy if his wish is not granted.

Featuring some new characters, including Crystal’s spoilt daughter Porsha (Halsey), street dancing lynx Nooshy (Letitia Wright) and kindly elephant Alfonso (Pharrell Williams), this follows a similar formula to the first movie, mixing hit songs with comedy as Buster tries to get his show ready for the stage and his star out of retirement.

Unfortunately, Bono’s performance is something of a disappointment – his lion character Clay has little dialogue and has a monotone, mid-Atlantic accent – though his performance of a classic U2 song at the climax is one of the film’s musical highlights.

Sing 2 is not desperately original or exciting – and with a running time of nearly two hours it’s quite long for an animated family film – but kids who liked the first movie should find enough to enjoy in this follow-up, while grown ups will at least be amused by a bonkers Alice In Wonderland-themed production of Prince’s ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ and a rather sweet elephant duet of ‘I Say A Little Prayer’.

Is Sing 2 suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...

There is one scene, in which Crystal dangles Buster over the edge of a high rise balcony, that may upset very young children, but it is over quickly and Buster is shown to be fine.

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Tags: animation , Bono , comedy , Matthew McConaughey , musical , Scarlett Johansson , Sing , Taron Egerton

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Plugged In Movie Review

Dec 30, 2016, movie review: sing.

Sing is exactly what you would expect if you've seen the trailer: a lighthearted and inspiring *American Idol*-style singing competition between animated, anthropomorphized animals. Read our full review on Plugged In Online.

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Buster Moon and his singing animal friends return to take their shot at the big time. Lessons about friendship and determination abound, though a few songs here might raise parents’ eyebrows a bit. Read the Plugged In review: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/sing-2-2021/ If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

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Adam holz, paul asay and johnathan mckee, movie review: inside out 2.

Does Pixar’s latest live up to the 2015 original? Or are their reasons for parents to be … anxious? You might be surprised by the answers to those questions

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About Plugged In Entertainment Reviews

Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

About Adam Holz, Paul Asay and Johnathan McKee

Adam Holz  After serving as an associate editor at NavPress' Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In's reviews along with hosting The Plugged In Show and the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature.   Paul Asay has been part of the  Plugged In  staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including  Time,   The Washington Post  and  Christianity Today . The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter  @AsayPaul . Jonathan McKee  is the author of over twenty books. He has over 20 years youth ministry experience and  speaks  to parents and leaders worldwide, He can be heard each week on the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature and The Plugged In Show. You can follow Jonathan on  his blog , getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.

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Content Caution

In Theaters

• December 21, 2016
• Voices of Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon; Reese Witherspoon as Rosita; Seth MacFarlane as Mike; Scarlett Johansson as Ash; John C. Reilly as Eddie Noodleman; Tori Kelly as Meena; Taron Egerton as Johnny; Nick Kroll as Gunter; Nick Offerman as Norman; Garth Jennings as Miss Matilda Crawly; Peter Serafinowicz as Marcus; Beck Bennett as Lance; Leslie Jones as Meena's Mother; Jay Pharoah as Meena's Grandfather; Jennifer Saunders as Miss Nana Noodleman; Jennifer Hudson as Young Nana Noodleman; Rhea Perlman as Judith

Home Release Date

• March 21, 2017
• Garth Jennings and Christophe Lourdelet

Distributor

Movie review.

Funny thing about dreams: Everyone has them, yet so few actually achieve them. At least not permanently.

Take Buster Moon, for instance. At the tender age of 6, the koala bear fell in love. The object of his ardor? The theater. Buster found himself mesmerized by the operatic prowess of one Nana Noodleman, a singer whose voice was a thing of captivating, wondrous beauty. So much so, in fact, that lil’ Buster decided right then and there that he would one day own the theater where he’d heard her sing.

One day years later—thanks to the hardworking support of his faithful father—Buster’s dream came true: He purchased the hallowed thespian establishment.

Alas, seemingly fulfilled dreams can be slippery things. And Buster’s mostly-ignored theater is now smack up against those proverbial hard times. He doesn’t have the cash flow to pay grumbling stage hands after the theater’s latest box office bomb. He can’t make mortgage payments, either. It looks as if Buster’s dream is on the verge of going to an early grave.

But necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. Or at least imitation. So Buster hatches a desperate brainstorm: stage a singing competition for everyone in his palm tree-dotted metropolis, a last-ditch attempt to generate interest in his failing venue.

“A singing competition?” his best friend (and Nana’s trust-fund coddled grandson), Eddie, says skeptically. “Who wants to see another one of those?” Buster remains undeterred: “Real-life talent,” he gushes grandly. “In real life!”

So Buster scrounges up his last $935 and instructs his long-suffering, one-eyed iguana assistant, Miss Matilda Crawley, to type up some brochures offering a cool grand to the winner of his competition. (He figures he can scrape up the other $65 somewhere .)

Miss Crawley dutifully types it all up. Then her one fake eye pops out on the keyboard, adding a couple of zeroes to the prize-money brochure—without her (or Buster) noticing—right before the office’s oscillating fan accidentally disperses the flyers throughout the city.

In a flash, the dreams of animals across town are suddenly, unexpectedly energized.

There’s Rosita, a housewife pig and mother of—wait for it: 25 piglets —whose endless domestic responsibilities and utterly self-absorbed workaday husband, Norman, leave her longing for something … more. Johnny (a stylish, leather-wearing gorilla) is being groomed by his gangster father to do more than just drive the getaway car after heists; but all Johnny wants to do is sing. Mike the mouse has a Sinatra-like voice as big as he is small, with an outsized rodent ego to match. Meena is a teenage elephant so shy she can barely even audition. And Ash is a punk rock porcupine whose boyfriend, Lance, just coldly left her for someone else.

All of these yearning, singing souls (along with scores of other mostly mammalian hopefuls) converge on Buster’s dilapidated old theater, American Idol -style, much to his surprised delight.

But a much bigger surprise awaits almost everyone when they discover that Buster’s prize package is actually a couple digits shy of what was promised on the brochure—a realization that threatens to cruelly crush all of their fragile dreams.

Positive Elements

Though it’s not a Disney film, Sing nevertheless requisitions the Mouse House’s perennial theme of persevering in the pursuit of your heart’s desire. We repeatedly hear the phrase, “Dream big dreams!” Meena’s father tells her, “Be confident!” Likewise, Buster tries to coach Meena through her crippling stage fright, telling the paralyzed pachyderm, “Do what you love. Then you won’t be afraid anymore. Because you’re actually doing it.”

For her part, Rosita has essentially zero support from her always-working, always-napping, never-cleaning husband. But she hangs in there, too, as do the rest of the film’s main characters.

Early on, Buster brims with confidence despite his misfortunes. He tells his bestie, “You know what’s good about hitting rock bottom, Eddie? There’s only one way to go, and that’s up.” Later, a distraught Buster learns that rock bottom is actually a lot lower than he initially thought, but Eddie brims with the same kind of upbeat optimism Buster once embodied. Other contestants seek to cheer Buster up, too.

Johnny has a tense relationship with his father, Marcus. But when the older gorilla sees his son performing on TV (after Marcus has been jailed) he breaks out of the clink and races across town just to hear Johnny sing and to tell his son, “I’m so proud of you!” Though Marcus’s simian jailbreak obviously isn’t a good thing, he willingly returns to his confinement after Johnny’s performance.

Spiritual Elements

Several songs include passing spiritual references. We hear a Sinatra-esque snippet of “Pennies from Heaven.” A version of Cat Stevens’ tune “The Wind” says, “Where I’ll end up, only God knows.” Bananarama’s song “Venus” includes the lines, “Goddess is on the mountaintop/Burning like a silver flame.” Meena belts out Leonard Cohen’s iconic “Hallelujah,” and we hear the lyric, “I’ll stand before the Lord of song with nothing on my tongue but hallelujah.”

Sexual Content

Three female rabbits wiggle and waggle their backsides suggestively, singing these actual lines from Nicki Minaj’s exceedingly racy song, “Anaconda”: “Oh my gosh, look at her butt.”

Though Ash is just a teenager, it’s implied that she and Lance are perhaps living together. At the very least, he has a key to her apartment, and she comes home one day to find him flirting with another pretty porcupine named Becky. Mike successfully woos a rich, pretty female mouse.

For the show, Rosita partners with a flamboyant, German-accented pig named Gunter. He wears a skin-tight leotard that Rosita comments shows a lot of “skin,” and he does something like a striptease to reveal his outfit. Rosita—a mother of 25, remember—isn’t as sensual as Gunter is. He coaches her, “Let the music take control of your body parts.” Rosita eventually takes his advice and dons a similarly “revealing” outfit for the duo’s performance, much to her husband’s wide-eyed porcine amazement and approval. (He gives her a big kiss afterward.)

Elsewhere, a leotard-clad frog has an effeminate accent. Visual gags involve Buster and Eddie wearing Speedo swimming suits as they wash and buff cars with their bodies. Eddie does a hip-thrusting dance.

Violent Content

Slapstick peril and pratfalls abound, but no one ever really gets hurt. A bursting water tank fills a building with fluid, momentarily trapping animals who look as if they might drown before the structure essentially explodes from the pressure and spills them (drenched, but otherwise unharmed) onto the street.

Several reckless car chases careen through the city, causing accidents. Menacing bears threaten to eat the mouse Mike (and nearly succeed twice).

Multiple characters fall from great heights and get accordingly banged around. A light rig crashes on one unfortunate animal, who (in an unexpected nod to realism) is taken away in an ambulance. When Ash the porcupine gets really worked up, she tends to throw her quills, which end up embedded in Buster’s face as well as in members of the audience. (A llama suffers the most harm.) A slug gets stepped on. Buster’s tossed out into the street.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear six exclamations of “oh my gosh,” two of “holy moly” and lone unfinished utterances of “oh my … ” and “what the …” Someone is said to be “artsy fartsy,” while another character is dubbed an “old fart.” Gunter calls someone a “total super-jerk dinkleschplatt.” Other name-calling includes “stupid,” “fool” and “bozos.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Several scenes take place in a swanky dance club that pictures various well-hoofed animals imbibing what look to be martinis and other mixed drinks. A joke is made about someone’s asthma inhaler being illicit drug paraphernalia.

Other Negative Elements

Buster repeatedly tries to dodge his financial obligations, including paying his stagehands and repaying a bank loan.

Marcus and his gang pull off two heists. The second of those lands that group of guerilla gorillas in jail—mostly because his son, Johnny, abandons his role as the getaway driver in order to go sing. Marcus cruelly tells Johnny (via a jail phone), “How did I end up with a son like you? You’re nothing like me. You never were, and you never will be.” Johnny then tries (unsuccessfully) to steal the supposed $100K prize money in order to post bail for his dad.

While busking with his saxophone, Mike accosts someone who says he doesn’t have any money to contribute. Mike shakes the poor man down and essentially steals a wad of cash from the distraught bystander.

Mike also gambles with a group of ill-tempered Russian bears who are apparently Mafioso. He’s grabbing a pile of cash he’s won from them when they notice an ace hidden in his jacket. The disgruntled grizzlies spend the balance of the movie trying to catch the cheating mouse, who’s often speeding away in a red, Ferrari-liked sports car that he financed after deceptively telling the bank he was on the verge of getting $100,000 (the prize money for the competition that he hasn’t actually won and which doesn’t actually exist).

A nervous animal in one scene loudly passes gas five or six times. There are also nose-blowing gags.

Sometimes you walk out of movies thinking, “Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting at all .”

Sing is not one of those movies.

Sing is exactly what you would expect if you’ve seen the trailer: a lighthearted and inspiring American Idol -style singing competition between animated, anthropomorphized animals. Just like that genre-defining show, each contestant here harbors dreams of singing, and each has the obligatory dramatic or hard-luck backstory. In the end, we’re invited to root for them all.

Like most animated flicks these days, there’s a whisker of bathroom humor and a hair of suggestive material. Animal flatulence jokes will no doubt get the little ones giggling, even as Mom and Dad roll their eyes a bit.

It’s all in the service of that Disney-style ideal of following your heart. Keep dreaming, the movie says. Keep hoping. Never give up, and never give up on your friends. Parents, of course, know that there may be some instances where such starry-eyed counsel is unrealistic. But then again, this is a movie about singing animals, so we probably don’t need to overthink that one.

One area we might not think to think about, however, is the music and musicians represented here. While none of the featured songs are terribly problematic, they do come from a broad range of secular performers with other material that is , such as Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj. And youngsters who imitatively Google the latter’s lyric “oh my gosh, look at her butt,” are in for decidedly not-so-innocent shock.

Still, that’s probably the biggest caveat for an otherwise fun film, one that inspires us to hold onto our dreams and that doesn’t assault us with a theater-full of age-inappropriate material along the way.

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

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Inside Out 2

Ultraman: Rising

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Plugged in review: pixar delivers with ‘inside out 2,’ avoids major pitfalls for christian families.

“Inside Out 2” is fun. It’s thoughtful. And it’s a fantastic conversation starter. And it avoids the major content concerns for Christian parents. “Ultraman: Rising” isn’t perfect. But as far as positive messages go, it definitely earns the title of “ultra.”

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Read on to get Plugged In on what’s beyond the movie titles and trailers for faith-filled and family-first reviews from Focus on the Family’s Plugged In .

Inside Out 2 – In Theaters

For a long while, Pixar could do no wrong.

From 1995’s “ Toy Story ” to 2015’s “ Inside Out ,” the studio churned out a steady stream of critical and commercial hits. In that 20-year span, Pixar released 15 films — and a staggering 11 of them scored 90% or better on Rotten Tomatoes.

While Pixar has still churned out its share of critical and commercial darlings since then, it’s suffered a few misfires, too — perhaps highlighted (or lowlighted?) by 2022’s “ Lightyear ,” considered the first real financial flop on Pixar’s ledger.

Be sure to listen in to The Plugged In Show , a weekly podcast with lighthearted reviews for parents and conversations about entertainment, pop culture and technology: 

Many conservative Christian families steered clear of “Lightyear” because of its LGBT content, but that’s only part of the story of why the movie failed. Truth is, Pixar’s storytelling has also been a bit uneven — at least for Pixar. And those factors — and likely others — led many to eye “Inside Out 2” with caution. “I loved the original,” you might be asking. “But will the sequel match up? Will Disney/Pixar spoil it with ‘woke’ content?”

The answers to those two questions, in order, is yes, and no.

When I reviewed “Inside Out,” it was almost a revelation to me. Not only was it funny and emotional and deeply resonant, but it provided moviegoers with practically a whole new vocabulary to consider their own emotions and those of their kids. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about my own Islands of Identity or used the language of “Inside Out” to discuss my kids’ own thoughts and feelings with them. The sequel continues on that trajectory and gives moviegoers plenty to think about — and talk about. And with so many teens struggling with various forms of mental illness, “Inside Out 2” feels quite timely.

“Inside Out 2” isn’t perhaps the creative and emotional tour-de-force that the original was. But it again introduces us to (pardon the pun) heady emotional concepts with wit and wisdom. It offers some really fun, seemingly throwaway scenes that, when you think about them on the way home from the theater, you realize they had more heft than you thought. It takes you into the mind of a 13-year-old girl and reminds you that maybe you and Riley aren’t all that different.

Riley’s battles with Anxiety reminded me of when I was 13. And they reminded me of when I was 33. Yeah, puberty reliably overturns everyone’s apple cart. But bumps in the emotional road? They know no age limit.

And while the film has some issues (as every film does), it doesn’t come with red, blaring alarms or sirens in terms of its content. And that can allow many a parent’s own version of Anxiety to settle in a nice, comfy chair and take a deep breath.

“Inside Out 2” is fun. It’s thoughtful. And it’s a fantastic conversation starter. It might not be among Pixar’s very best, but that’s a high bar to clear.

And I’ll not lie: It had me smiling even as I wiped away a tear.

Read the rest of the review here . Watch the trailer here .

Ultraman: Rising – Streaming on Netflix

Were you to have told me that the kaiju film subgenre would release some of the most positive messages about life and family I’ve seen since I started my career at Plugged In, I’d have laughed in your face.

When “ Godzilla Minus One ” was released, for instance, I expected little more than a giant monster stomping around a city. And while such stomping did happen, I deeply enjoyed the depth of the story’s positive messages about the value of life.

“Ultraman: Rising” is the latest release in the kaiju category. And, like “Godzilla Minus One,” it’s yet another monster film that comes, somewhat surprisingly, with a lot of positive messages.

As Ken grapples with raising the orphaned baby kaiju, we see him slowly turn from being a self-absorbed baseball player to becoming a sacrificial and loving adoptive father. Of course, this baby kaiju isn’t human in any regard — but as Ken struggles with all of the baby monster’s needs, mishaps and more, we catch a glimpse of the difficulties and triumphs of parenting.

And that’s intentional. Director Shannon Tindle tweeted , “The film was inspired by my experience becoming a parent.” And in another interview , Ms. Tindle described the movie as an “honest approach to family” and “a celebration of the iconic [Ultraman] and my experiences as both a son and a father.”

That’s not to say that “Ultraman: Rising” is perfect. As much as we appreciate its positive messages, the story’s frequent misuse of God’s name remains a big strike against the family-centric film, one that parents will want to think about carefully before they decide whether to watch.

But as far as this film’s positive messages go, “Ultraman: Rising” is just about as “ultra” as it claims.

Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

Reviews written by Paul Asay and Kennedy Unthank .

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission .

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All 5 New Emotions In Inside Out 2 Explained

Inside out 2 rotten tomatoes score can't replicate original's near perfection (but it's still super fresh), how much did inside out 2 cost to make & what box office it needs.

• Inside Out 2 will tackle heavier subject matter like high school, relationships, and anxiety, appealing to older viewers.
• The movie is rated PG for thematic elements, indicating it may have some intense moments but still suitable for children.
• The sequel will introduce new Emotions and build upon the original, offering a heartwarming story for the whole family.

Like all of Pixar's animated classics, Inside Out 2 is designed to appeal to all ages, but that doesn't preclude it from venturing into some heavier subject matter. The sequel to the beloved 2015 that followed the escapades of five anthropomorphic Emotions in the mind of a preteen girl, Riley, will pick up a short while after the original ended, and will introduce new cast and Emotions as Riley becomes a teenager and deals with puberty. Inside Out is considered one of the greatest movies Pixar/Disney has ever produced, and it was nominated for two Academy Awards upon release.

Inside Out 2 will differ from its predecessor by dealing with some more advanced material. While the big emotional obstacle for Riley in Inside Out was moving to a new city, Inside Out 2 will deal with high school, relationships, and anxiety among other "big kid" problems. Justifiably, that calls into question just how appropriate the sequel is for children who aren't yet teenagers. If Inside Out 2 's box office projections are any indicator, there will be plenty of younger eyes on the movie.

Inside Out 2 Is Rated PG For Thematic Elements

Like most pixar movies, there will likely be some peril and fear.

Inside Out 2 is, like most Pixar movies, rated PG, indicating that some parental guidance is recommended. PG movies are widely recognized as being entirely appropriate for any child over the age of 8, but can still be suitable for children younger than 8 with the exception of some scenes that they might find scary. That looks like it's the case for Inside Out 2 , as it has been rated PG for "thematic elements."

Pixar's chief creative officer Pete Docter, who directed Inside Out , originally imagined up to 27 different emotions, as that more accurately reflects the real human experience. Inside Out 2 reflects his original vision for the 2015 classic.

With the sequel set to introduce four new Emotions, the story may venture into some new elements from the original. The new emotion Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke) in particular will likely be involved in some emotionally intense moments, which the youngest viewers in the theater could potentially find upsetting. Chances are there will be some moments of fear and danger, but nothing more objectionable than that. As an animated kids movie, there won't be any sort of real violence or death, although there may be some sad moments, like Bing Bong disappearing in Inside Out .

Inside Out 2 Is Very Suitable For Children

Its bright characters return with a fun, heartwarming story.

Overall Inside Out 2 is perfectly appropriate for the entire family. The most intense moments will almost certainly have a happy resolution, and any violence will be of the cartoon slapstick variety, designed to make kids laugh. The highly-anticipated sequel, which will have its first showtimes on Thursday, June 13th , will build upon the foundations laid in Inside Out , and will have more time to introduce the newest Emotions with no need to spend time establishing the world in which they live.

Inside Out 2 will undoubtedly still feature a heartwarming, enjoyable story that will delight viewers of all ages.

The full trailer for Inside Out 2 reveals that the new Emotions introduced (Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, Embarrassment, and Nostalgia) fundamentally change Riley as a person as she becomes a teenager. That will definitely ensure that the movie strikes a chord with the viewers who have experienced becoming a teenager, and properly pushes the franchise forward. However, Inside Out 2 will undoubtedly still feature a heartwarming, enjoyable story that will delight viewers of all ages.

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.

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New emotions emerge in 'Inside Out 2' — including nostalgia for the original film

Justin Chang

Joy and Anxiety (voiced by Amy Poehler and Maya Hawke) meet in Riley's head in Inside Out 2. Disney/Pixar hide caption

As Inside Out 2 gets under way, things are looking up for Riley, the hockey-loving kid who moved with her parents from Minnesota to San Francisco in the first Inside Out . She’s adjusted to her new life, school and friends, and her five personified emotions — who share the high-tech headquarters of her brain — have learned to work together in relative harmony. Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler , is still mostly in charge, but now she and Sadness — the incomparable Phyllis Smith — make a great team, along with the other key emotions, Anger, Fear and Disgust.

But now Riley is 13, which means pimples, growth spurts and a much more complicated emotional life. The director Kelsey Mann, taking over for the first film’s Pete Docter , cleverly dramatizes the onset of puberty as a huge disruption for Joy and Company, who don’t know why their usual routine is suddenly causing Riley to undergo wild mood swings. It turns out, a new emotion has joined headquarters: Anxiety, voiced by a terrific Maya Hawke.

The 'Inside Out' movies give kids an 'emotional vocabulary.' Therapists love that

Anxiety has brought along her own team of emotions. They’re basically the three E’s: Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment, voiced by Ayo Edebiri , Adèle Exarchopoulos and Paul Walter Hauser. Some of this stretches conceptual credibility: Surely this isn’t the first time in her life that Riley has experienced some of those feelings. But that’s part of the whimsical pleasure of the Inside Out films: It’s fun to feel your own brain arguing with how it’s represented. It’s also fun to see new regions of Riley’s mental landscape, like the giant ravine that fuels her contemptuous side — naturally, it’s called the Sar-chasm.

The story kicks into gear when Riley is sent to an elite three-day hockey camp, where she’s forced to make some tough decisions, like whether to stick with her two closest friends or hang out with the cool older kids. As the pressure on Riley mounts and the competition gets more cutthroat, it’s Anxiety who emerges as the movie’s villain.

These are the 19 movies we're most excited about this summer

Hawke does a great job of making the character’s polite bundle-of-nerves routine a little more annoying — and sinister — in every scene. Anxiety basically engineers a hostile takeover of Riley’s mind, banishing Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust to the outskirts of consciousness, and setting out to mold Riley into a more successful version of herself. What she’s unwittingly doing is making Riley more ambitious and conniving.

Inside Out 2 , in other words, is something of an anti-stress movie, where unchecked drivenness can destroy a person’s true sense of self. It’s hard to argue with that, but it’s also hard not to push back a little. This isn’t the first Pixar movie that’s tried to teach us to lighten up and let things go, a lesson that dates as far back as the first Toy Story. But it’s always struck me as a bit rich coming from Pixar, given the hyper-ambition and perfectionism that have long defined the studio’s brand.

From The 'Inside Out,' A Lively Look Inside A Young Mind

Fortunately, there is a better, deeper message at the heart of Inside Out 2 , that encourages us to take a more expansive view of ourselves — to acknowledge that we all have the capacity for good and bad. As in the first movie, the goal is to strive for balance, embrace complexity and learn to be OK with imperfection.

I’m trying to do that myself with Inside Out 2 , which, despite its many pleasures, is a pretty imperfect movie. It isn’t nearly as emotionally overwhelming as its predecessor, but how could it be? The first Inside Out was a piercing lament for childhood’s end, with Joy and Sadness’ frenemy dynamic as its irresistible core.

Now, Riley’s older and maturing, and it’s natural that her latest adventure should hit us differently. But there are also some bewildering choices here that suggest the story could have used, well, a rethink. There’s one overlong sequence, in which Joy and her friends encounter memories of old cartoon and video-game characters buried deep in Riley’s mind; it’s a cheap gag, and it almost pulled me out of the movie entirely. And there’s a recurring joke, involving Riley’s sense of Nostalgia, that strikes a weirdly sour note. Ironically, it made me feel a little nostalgic myself — for the days when Pixar would have known to leave a bit like that on the cutting-room floor.

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Inside Out 2 review: a family movie that combines surreal comedy and race-against-time adventure

Pixar's brilliant 2015 animated movie  Inside Out  brought a young girl's growing pains to life with dazzling wit and tender wisdom — and immediately established itself in the top rank of the studio's films. A hard act to follow, then. Nine years on, the sequel pulls it off.

Inside Out 2  reprises its predecessor's vivid central conceit that five personified emotions live inside the head of a girl named Riley, guiding her feelings from a knob-laden control desk and processing her new memories as they arrive at their headquarters in the form of bowling-type balls colored according to mood. In the previous story, wide-eyed, permanently buoyant Joy (marvelously voiced by Amy Poehler) and her colleagues, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness, were plunged into crisis after 11-year-old Riley found herself uprooted from Minnesota to San Francisco. The turmoil of the move to a new home and school triggered a crisis that led to Joy and droopy, owlish Sadness (Phyllis Smith) being ejected from their headquarters and faced with the challenge of making their way back from the outer reaches of Riley’s mindscape in order to prevent further disaster.

The new film raises the stakes still higher as Riley (now voiced by Kensington Tallman) turns 13 and wakes up with a zit on her chin. Puberty has struck. Cue panic stations in HQ for Joy and co. as a siren sounds, a red light flashes and a crew of construction workers arrives to tear down the old headquarters and install a new console to handle the tumult of adolescence. Even more alarmingly, a new set of personified emotions — Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui — now turns up in Riley’s hormone-surging brain.

Riley, an ice-hockey star on her middle-school team, is about to move up to high school and hopes to make a good enough impression at a forthcoming three-day hockey camp to make her new school's team, the Fire Hawks. She has just learned, however, that her best friends, Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace (Grae Lu), will be attending a different school. At the hockey camp, should she disloyally cut her old friends loose and strive to ingratiate herself with the older Fire Hawks girls? Is she cool enough to be their friend? And is she a good enough player to make their team?

With all this going on it is no wonder that Anxiety, a toothy, bug-eyed, frazzled orange figure voiced with manic nervous energy by Maya Hawke, should now supplant Joy as Riley’s dominant emotion. Worse follows as Anxiety jettisons Riley's old Sense of Self and ejects Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, exiling them to the Vault where suppressed emotions are locked up. Can Joy and her companions escape the Vault, retrieve Riley's former Sense of Self and make their way back to HQ before her Belief System (depicted as glowing strands of light) is altered for good?

Once again the Pixar team — headed by director Kelsey Mann, here stepping into the shoes of the first film’s director, Pete Docter — have managed to deliver a family movie that combines surreal comedy and race-against-time adventure with heart-tugging psychological insights.  Inside Out 2  can't, understandably, match the impact its predecessor originally made, but it does make freshly inventive use of the earlier film's clever conceits, coming up with a string of humorous visual metaphors and jokey puns for the workings of the brain and the raging emotions of adolescence. (Look out for a whirling brainstorm and the canyon-sized Sar-Chasm.) The new characters, including awkward, hulking Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), constantly blushing pink and hiding himself in his hoodie, and languid Ennui, voiced with studied Gallic disdain by Blue Is the Warmest Colour's Adèle Exarchopoulos, make a vivid impact, while the animation is, if anything, even more dazzlingly crafted than before.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere Spoiler-Free Review

The opening episodes show a family brutally turning on itself – but not as quickly as you’d hope..

This is a spoiler-free review of Season 2, Episodes 1 and 2 of House of the Dragon; read on after the main review for thoughts on Episodes 3 and 4. Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max at 9pm ET on Sunday, June 16. Reviews of new episodes will post Sunday nights through August 4.

When House of the Dragon premiered in 2022 , co-showrunner Ryan Condal promised a pace akin to the barnstorming middle seasons of Game of Thrones . More recently Condal (who’s now flying solo after longtime GoT hand Miguel Sapochnik stepped back) has said that season 2 will have a burning fuse running through it , setting off small charges before – presumably – a major, final blaze. The first two episodes of the new season are certainly a slow burn, and might have done with a bit more fuel on the fire in between their climactic moments.

We return to Westeros for an opening salvo that’s focused on personal grief and the looming prospect of hostilities between Targaryen factions. Neither mourning “black” queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) or guilt-ridden “green” queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is making optimal decisions following the killing of Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys, by Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) in the first season finale . But they at least remember a time when they were friends, and while they’re both unrelenting in their battle for the Iron Throne, they’re consistently the cooler heads.

The Best Characters on House of the Dragon

Pick a winner.

Around them, though, schemers and scoundrels jostle for power and revenge. Matt Smith’s Daemon remains the most interesting character, capable of ruthless murder one minute and unusual tenderness the next, but he's closely followed by his entirely devious but increasingly weary opposite, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). Tom Glynn-Carney’s King Aegon is given a few moments of humanity here to make up for his unrelieved venality last season, but he's still intensely unlikeable and very much in the same mould as King Joffrey Baratheon. The grieving Velaryons, Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and Rhaenys (Eve Best), remain the coolest and most charismatic pairing here, and though their granddaughter Baela (Bethany Antonia) looks like she could attain their level of badassery in time, the three have precious little screen time between them in which to display it.

House of the Dragon therefore remains a little short on people to truly root for at this point; you’d give Aemond’s eye for another Tyrion, another Brienne. Rhaenyra is sympathetic in her anguish, but isolated by her position and angry at a world that has turned against her – so much that it’s hard to deeply invest in her. Her eldest surviving son, Jacaerys (Harry Collett), seems promising, channelling a sort of Chalamet-as-Paul-Atreides energy as he completes the mission he was dispatched on last season and mourns his brother with his family. Then again, good heartedness is not necessarily a survival trait in this world, so perhaps it's best he not show much more depth.

What do you hope to see in Season 2 of House of the Dragon?

It must be said that House of the Dragon still looks gorgeous. Location filming has largely shifted from Cornwall to Snowdonia and Anglesey in Wales, with a healthy dose of Spain for the warmer climates, but the shift isn’t jarring unless you know what to look for. We get a glimpse of the North at the start of the season, with a welcome dash of gritty Stark stoicism to leaven the impossibly messy lives of the Targaryen clan.

There are also new opening credits, which dispense with the blood and stone of Season 1 to bring us the embroidery of a Bayeux Tapestry-style history of the Targaryen clan and their various hangers on. The mechanism of its creation is less satisfying than the clockwork style of the original, with threads simply jumping through the base fabric, but it promises lots of spoilerific detail for anyone with patience and a pause button.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Character Posters

Fantasy fans, however, may be disappointed to learn that there’s not a lot of dragon action in these first two episodes, though enough of them patrol the skies and remain a topic in war planning to remind us that these weapons of mass destruction are still very much a factor. Still, the reluctance to dive into action makes the slow start to this season a little frustrating. These are long episodes (just under and just over an hour, respectively), but each one manages only a single truly surprising or dramatic moment. After the buildup of the first season, is it wrong to want some full-fledged civil war already? In the real world, war is good for absolutely nothing ( say it again ), but in a Westerosi context, surely it's meant to come standard. Thrones meted out its battles judiciously, but had enough surprising murder and twisting conspiracy along the way to keep us rapt.

These episodes have plenty of on-screen blood, but it comes from a relatively small number of donors, most of whom are easy to see coming. Perhaps there’s an egalitarian impulse buried somewhere in the way that the squabbling Greens and Blacks of the Targaryen family are plotting to kill one another directly, rather than fighting out their issues via huge armies of “smallfolk” – a.k.a. ordinary people who, it is remarked, are often the ones who suffer when princes lose their tempers. Still, it's a little underwhelming for a TV show that has been sold at least partly on the promise of mayhem and murder, and we’ve already waited so patiently.

What remains strong, however, is the cast. Cooke and D’Arcy, their characters’ long-ago friendship almost entirely buried now under concern for their respective children, never set a foot wrong. Smith is excellent, and even Glynn-Carney, in a much less nuanced role, shows range. So there are well-performed characters to keep us interested as we wait for the real fire and blood to start; dozens of them, in fact, though the often sedate writing means that the cast can never make them as vivid as one might like. And amid the unrelenting doom and gloom of the coming dynastic conflict, there’s hardly any comedy either. Granted, that would be all too easy to overdo, but a little tonal variation – again, of the variety that Tyrion’s rapier wit brought to Game of Thrones – would help lift the whole thing and set House of the Dragon’s darker moments in stark relief. Instead we’re all stuck in a two-hour morass of grief, guilt, and looming conflict.

UPDATE: After this review was written, I was able to watch Episodes 3 and 4 of Season 2, and things do get more action-packed as the season gets into its stride. That’s a relief, after 12 episodes of (mostly) build-up. The end of episode four, in particular, may make a certain kind of fantasy fan (me) jump out of their seats and scream with delight and horror and sheer awe at the spectacle of it all. Long may this sort of scope and scale shape the entire show.

The third and fourth episodes see the kind of plotting and strategizing that have been going on for such a long time now result in some impressively large-scale action – but we also see at least a glimpse of the kind of mindless death and destruction that this civil war will inevitably unleash. One rural Eden is turned into a burnt-out, blood-scarred scene of devastation; bodies hang from the battlements of the Red Keep, a lasting reminder of the brutality of this world.

Impetuous, powerful men can sense battle in the air by this point, and they’re itching to get to it. Daemon, of course, rides off to get things started without much consideration of tactics or teamwork; Ser Cristen Cole, only slightly less impetuously, leads his armies out to meet the foe. Rhaenyra is still hesitant, casting about for any other way to meet her opposite number and broker some kind of piece, but this increasingly feels like a zero-sum game. Neither she nor her opponents, Alicent and Aegon, can really allow the other to live and feel secure on their throne. Rhaenyra’s reluctance to accept that is rather commendable from a moral standpoint – but strategically, at this point, she begins to accept that war is inevitable.

In these two episodes we also get a reminder that there are people in this world who are neither noblemen or courtiers. While Game of Thrones had a smattering of commoners and smallfolk throughout its run, House of the Dragon has so far been almost completely focused on the movements of people in King’s Landing, Dragonstone, and Driftmark. It’s a welcome development therefore to see a couple of characters who are named in the book given some time to shine. Kieran Bew plays a smith called Hugh, who we see petitioning King Aegon for prompt payment of Crown debts but also in a scene with his family that hints at a bigger role to come. Love And Friendship’s Tom Bennett, meanwhile, appears as Ulf, a hard-drinking man of the people who also claims illegitimate descendency from the Targaryen family. These two may offer a slightly different perspective on the war than we’ve had to this point, which is welcome.

For readers, it’s interesting to see how this is all being drawn out and adapted from George R.R. Martin’s very fast-moving faux-history book Fire and Blood, and how these characters are being brought to three-dimensional life. If we can keep adding this sort of depth to characters who, on the page, are sometimes rather one-note, House of the Dragon may rise to match its predecessor.

These episodes also bring us back to fantasy territory. That’s partly because the great castle of Harrenhal, which one of our characters visits, appears to be quite severely haunted – though that might be due to the machinations of another newcomer, the mysterious Alys Rivers (G.L.O.W.’s Gayle Rankin). More importantly, it’s because those Targaryen dragons finally come out to play in a big way. Short of Jon Snow and Tyrion turning up after accidentally time-travelling back a couple of hundred years, it’s hard to think of anything more likely to make a fantasy fan’s heart burst with excitement. We’ve had lots of “House Of”; now this season is delivering on “The Dragon” part of its title. Dragons, in fact, in all their fierce and fiery glory. This is what we were waiting for, and by whichever gods you like, it’s glorious. Fire extinguishers at the ready, because this war is about to get seriously uncivil.

House of the Dragon is still beautifully made and performed in season 2’s opening pair of lengthy episodes, but these messy family dynamics can be frustrating rather than fascinating when there’s so much at stake and so little being done to actually address the problems or advance the cause of either side of this brewing war. Rhaenyra is sympathetic but a terrible, largely absent leader; Alicent is more effective but still acting on behalf of vicious family members. That’s satisfyingly complicated, but when it only results in small acts of misplaced violence and ill-advised assassination attempts, it can feel like a bit of a damp squib. It’s early days, however, and there’s definitely a path forward where that slow-burning fuse that the showrunners have promised will ignite some major fireworks in the near future.

More Reviews by Helen O'Hara

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‘inside out 2’ review: pixar’s psych studies pay off big time in delightful sequel set in turbulent early adolescence.

Amy Poehler is back as the voice of Joy, with a new whirl of emotions represented by Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Paul Walter Hauser.

By David Rooney

David Rooney

Chief Film Critic

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Disney wins approval of $17b development deal with desantis truce, box office preview: pixar's 'inside out 2' jumps on tracking, now eyeing $90m u.s. opening, inside out 2.

Whereas many sequels bulk up on principal characters simply because the laws of the follow-up demand it, the script here follows the sound logic that the relatively simple core emotions of childhood would suddenly be jostling for space with a whole new set of volatile feelings and confused impulses when adolescence hits. It’s the balance of basic psychology with abstract concepts and inspired observational comedy that makes this a uniquely captivating coming-of-age tale.

Riley has come through her tween years as a kind, well-adjusted kid who loves her supportive parents (Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan, back again) and her best friends Grace (Grace Lu) and Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green). She works hard in school and plays hard on the ice hockey rink. Her obsession with that sport, dating back to her early childhood in Minnesota, prompts some exciting opening action as Riley ricochets from desolation to triumph in the closing stretch of a game.

But their peaceful slumber is broken by the piercing sound of the console’s “Puberty Alarm” going off in the middle of the night. Suddenly, a maintenance crew descends for demolition day, gutting HQ and upgrading the console for a more sophisticated model, built to manage the hormonal rollercoaster of adolescence. At the same time, Riley wakes up with a zit and a temper, while Joy & Co. find that even the gentlest touch of a button on the new console yields a wild overreaction.

As Riley sets off for an all-important hockey camp that will determine whether she makes the hotshot high school team, the Fire Hawks, a newly evolved emotion takes control. And what more fitting emotion for a young teenager in 2024 than Anxiety, a jittery figure that looks like a Looney Tunes character put through a laundry wringer, all teeth and bug eyes, crowned by a tuft of messy orange plumage and voiced by Maya Hawke with nervous energy to burn.

Also new to HQ are pint-sized Envy ( Ayo Edebiri ), primed to kick in with every social comparison; mortifyingly outsize Embarrassment ( Paul Walter Hauser ), forever trying to disappear inside his hoodie; and most divinely, Ennui, a droopy manifestation of teenage apathy who seldom stirs from the couch where she operates the console remotely. Naturally, she’s French, voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos with sublime languor, nailing the humor in eye roll-accompanying comments like, “You care too much about things.”

The real conflict emerges when Anxiety exiles Joy and her childhood cohorts to The Vault, a subterranean storage unit for suppressed emotions where they make amusing new allies. It falls to Sadness, a perpetual Debbie Downer burdened by gloom and insecurity, to make it back to HQ and stop Anxiety before Riley’s Sense of Self is destroyed.

Just as the first film was peppered with funny set-pieces visualizing complex thought processes in hairy situations, Inside Out 2 mines humor and suspense from such elements as the stream of consciousness; a brainstorm; sarcasm (literally a “sar-chasm” that threatens to swallow Joy and friends); Imaginationland office staffers busily ordering up Anxiety’s worst-case scenarios; and the Parade of Future Careers, which allows the outcasts to hitch a ride on a Supreme Court Justice float.

Among my favorite jokes was the repeat appearance of Nostalgia ( June Squibb ), a sweet old dear carrying a cup of tea who’s sternly hurried out the door with cries of, “Too early!” Even if some of this once again will fly over the heads of the youngest audience members, the thrill ride of Joy & Co. facing endless setbacks while trying to stop out-of-control Anxiety is amply compelling even without the psychological framework.

Returning cast Poehler, Black and the wonderful Smith do stellar voice work, conforming to their characters’ guiding principles but also bending to accommodate other emotions. Hale and Lapira ably step in for Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling as Fear and Disgust, respectively. Disgust’s eyelash-fluttering flirtation with hunky videogame hero Lance Slashblade (Yong Yea) is delicious.

Hawke is an excellent addition, making a worthy antagonist who takes over with the diplomacy of a Bolshevik but ultimately proves no less susceptible to pressure than the rest of them. I could have taken more of the always superb Edebiri, but Hauser’s Embarrassment, though he’s given few words, is adorable, a hulking great Snuffleupagus-adjacent creature whose pink hue gets even pinker when he blushes. And Exarchopoulos’ positively Huppertienne Ennui might be the funniest Pixar embodiment of haughty disdain since Edna Mode.

The message of Inside Out 2 is as universal and good-hearted as that of its predecessor: You might not know from one minute to the next what emotion is driving a teenage mind, but every messy part of the mechanism has both function and beauty. Be sure to sit tight at the end for a cute post-credits gag that nails the propensity of the young to blow things out of proportion.

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