I'm primarily an animated movie reviewer so yes, I will go see Illumination, Dreamworks, Laika, and misc studios' movies. Just not Disney and Pixar because unlike the smaller studios, they do have the money to make future movies so I won't even go watch any of their animated movies with the exception of live action...and even then, I try to avoid the shorts.
Sing is basically an American Idol-esque show with a ragtag group of talented singers and performers. The mouse, ringleader of the whole shebang, is trying to save the theater really.
It's a story anyone would hear before. Hell, Glee is one of them to the point they will have villainous antagonists that does horrible things in the name of getting a place at Nationals. There are literally no villains if you count the shutdown plot.
I can't believe I'm saying this but watch Glee instead. It's not that Sing is genuinely bad at storytelling the same level as Glee but if you want a better story of a ragtag of talented singers banding together to have the best performances of their lives, then Glee it is....the first three seasons. People would have varying ideas where Glee started jumping the shark but in my opinion, it's Season 4. There are bad moments and legit bad writing in the first three seasons, I admit that but it felt like they are trying to say something rather than let it rot.
This Illumination film is trying to say something but it got lost in failing development for the characters. The gist of the characterization is there in their establishment shots and potential of interesting plotlines like the gorilla and his dad. Hell, there could've been more development with the entire group. We are meant to see the entire group as a family...and well they are more separate and only connected. Each character has an 'arc' I guess, some not even there or elaborated upon. The lady pig and Scarlet Johannson have something - restrictive lifestyle and the want to be more - but it was not developed. It just comes across as underdeveloped. Something is there but it's not focused enough. Even Glee focused on not only individual development but also group development...although there will be bad writing in both regards. This film, however, seemed to focus on snippets of characterization and there are interactions among the cast...it's just so little. Something is there but not elaborated. Unlike Frozen, however, I think this film is trying to say something but got lost in their vigor for music.
Surprisingly the character I like the most turned out to be Gunter. Everyone else was bland and uninspiring.
As for the singing, I actually do like Scarlett Johannson's, Seth McFarlane's (great voice but an awful creation of shows under his belt although Family Guy before Season 6 was not awful...there are bad moments certainly but in comparison of S6-present...), Tori Kelly's and Taron Egerton's. Reese Witherspoon's was okay as well as Gunter's actor.
The music is, unfortunately, the taste of the creators. Not that the songs that played are bad or anything, it's just that the music doesn't seem to have much importance story-wise beyond performance. I understand they are performers but sing songs that are in-line with their characterization like the songs in the finale. The rest of the movie that has songs doesn't have the same gist. Do the same as Glee's Pilot auditions....do what Season 1 of Glee did with the music, intertwine the music and the plot to get a better depth. There are the tastes of your characters' music and then there are the creators. I'm sure the latter is influencing the latter but please make them their own characters rather than mouthpieces for your taste of music. It's one thing if you are in the music industry but it's another when you are making something that has music integral to the plot.
The movie is harmless for the most part. It's not the worst animated movie of the year or even deserves a Razzie on par with Happy Madison's level of amazing storytelling. It's just average and not really notable.
So for the joy of music lovers, I would give you Susan Boyle's audition for Britain's Got Talent.
And besides, if you actually want to see a good musical, a feel-good one to boot, go see Legally Blonde. It's honestly great to listen to and I consider it a great improvement over the film. Not that the film is bad because I do like the film but I love the musical more the film. The musical is available on Youtube.
PS: I am watching Ace Attorney the anime and Sailor Moon Crystal finally! I did watch the live-action of the former and the latter and love them both. Seriously, the adaptation of Ace Attorney into a live-action movie was one of the best video game adaptations I ever was seen and rarely that ever happen. Look at Assassin's Creed warily. Even the Dead or Alive movie is surprisingly better adapted from the material than expected and that movie just comes out mediocre.
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