Unfortunately, the ruthless casino mogul (Bobby Cannavale) who runs the place insists that Buster land the participation of an aging rock-star lion (Bono), who has essentially become a hermit, as a condition of bankrolling the production, just one of the many hurdles that Buster and his pals encounter.
In addition to Bono, legit musical stars Pharrell Williams and Halsey join returning cast members Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, and Nick Kroll, with writer-director Garth Jennings reprising that role as well.
Still, the real star of “Sing” is the music, and the producers have seemingly spared no expense on that score, with a roster of tunes that include U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” (Bono’s there for a reason) as well as “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Higher Love,” “I Say a Little Prayer” and more.
The animation is colorful, with the protracted show — mounted under considerable duress — accounting for a sizable chunk of the movie.
Besides, for parents who wince at their tykes’ musical tastes, it’s probably a public service introducing kids to some of the songs with which their moms and dads grew up, all wrapped in a bright, anthropomorphic package.
“Sing 2” premieres Dec. 22 in US theaters. It’s rated PG.