Colour, movement, quirky characters and an up-tempo soundtrack are the order of the day as small-town America hits the big smoke.
The troupe led by impresario Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) – a koala – is playing to sold out shows locally.
In the audience one night is a canine talent scout, Suki Lane (Chelsea Peretti), who is less than impressed and bails at interval.
Buster is mortified, but the grand old dame of the theatre, sheep Nana Noodleman (Jennifer Saunders), encourages him to show his mettle and plough on.
He does so by rounding up the artistes – his friends – and heading to Redshore City, the equivalent of Las Vegas.
There he seeks an audience with the head of Crystal Entertainment, wolf Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale), who is known to be ruthless.
Buster is looking for the gang to play at Crystal Tower Theatre.
Without an appointment, they are sent packing, but Buster uses his ingenuity.
Unbelievably, they are engaged, selling themselves because of their connection to a reclusive rock legend, lion Clay Callaway (Bono), who hasn’t performed since his wife passed away more than 15 years ago.
Now they have to make contact with Callaway and lure him out of self-imposed exile, which proves to be no easy feat.
Buster Moon also finds himself on the wrong side of Jimmy Crystal after he demotes Crystal‘s spoiled daughter Porsha (Halsey) from the position of the show’s lead.
Sing 2 has a straightforward narrative that is well executed.
It is the foibles imbued in each of the characters that give the movie its oomph.
They are charming and vulnerable.
Pig Rosita (Reece Witherspoon) is afraid of heights.
Mountain gorilla Johnny (Taron Egerton) is frustrated at not being able to get his choreography en pointe.
Elephant Meena (Tori Kelly) is a real softie who discovers love.
Porcupine rocker Ash (Scarlett Johansson) has a can-do attitude.
Pig Gunter (Nick Kroll) loves the fact that it is his ideas that form the basis of the musical extravaganza that they are all preparing for.
The respectable and compliant iguana Miss Crawly (Garth Jennings) grows teeth when she is temporary tasked with keeping the troupe on schedule.
Garth Jennings, who wrote and co-directed Sing (2016), is back in charge again.
He ensures Sing 2 has warmth and heart.
You do not need to have seen the original to appreciate this sequel, although familiarity with the cast certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Sing 2 is a light-hearted romp with a ripping soundtrack.
Rated PG, Sing 2 scores a 7 out of 10.