Sing 2 (2021)

The critic finds the sequel an endearing and energetic continuation that builds on the first film's strengths with more extravagant musical numbers and strong performances. They single out the emotionally resonant scenes between Ash and Clay Calloway for achieving a new level of storytelling.

The critic describes it as a vibrant, entertaining family film with catchy musical numbers that is every bit as entertaining as its predecessor. They single out the vibrant animation and the emotional impact that leaves viewers with hope and a memorable U2 song in their head.

It is a vibrant, amusing comedy that may be a bit overstuffed but is peppy and often visually dazzling, with terrific voicework, eye-popping animation, nifty choreography, and a string of mini life lessons.

The critic praises the sweet sequel for its cheeky and poignant surprises, new characters like Porsha and Nooshy, and sympathy for underdogs, noting it won't change your life but will make you glad to be alive for stretches.

The critic calls it an enjoyably extra but samey sequel that follows the same story beats on a bigger scale with more visuals and musical numbers. They praise the wackadoodle energy in early scenes, eye-popping animation, and the sugar-high ending that will delight kids and U2 fans.

The critic sees the sequel as an improvement over the first film's low bar but still hollow and inauthentic, with pat life lessons and overproduced songs. They single out the emphasis on creative integrity clashing with corporate imperatives as a key complaint.

The critic notes the high-octane energy and fun individual musical numbers but finds the sensorially overwhelming sequel low-stakes with faded novelty, making one wonder about its point amid the cacophony.

The critic finds the sequel amiable and occasionally sweet but shallow overall, with its wall-to-wall pop songs and commercial blare drowning out any deeper message about performance anxiety.

The critic finds the sequel glossy but lacking heart and soul, feeling like an algorithm-generated product that extends the franchise for profit. The central turnaround for one character is not satisfyingly explained.

The critic notes it dials up the volume with more songs and performances but suffers from diminished returns, feeling impersonal and wearying with too many covers and not enough intimate moments. They praise the all-star voice cast and spectacle but criticize the glib handling of emotional backstory.

The sequel loses the karaoke charm of the original and becomes all glitz and no heart, with a scattered plot involving zip lines, choreographers, and an egomaniacal yak. The cover songs still have pep, providing the main bright spot.

The review criticizes the film as overstuffed and lacking charm compared to the original, with a messy plot and unappealing soundtrack choices. It singles out the continued Glee-ification of the songs and few laughs as major complaints.

The film is a hacky, soulless exercise in franchise extension with little story, noisy slapstick humor, contrived pathos, and a glitzy approach that undercuts its message about music. It wastes time rather than inspiring young viewers.

The critic finds the animated musical sequel a bright and lively holiday confection that delivers exactly what fans expect from the first film. The one thing singled out for praise is the strong selection of contemporary hits and the new U2/Bono song that really soars.

The critic sees it as charming and enjoyable with inventive staging and fun performances but notes it is not challenging enough and wishes the filmmakers had dreamed bigger.

The critic finds it a tired spectacular that rehashes old tropes but guarantees smiles for kids through its entertaining and visually ebullient approach.

The critic views it as a harmless but stale relic of the sing-off genre that is pleasant enough for kids but ultimately feels like white noise and a cover album of pop hits.

The critic finds the animated sequel even more oppressively soulless than the original, with a lazy barrage of recent pop tunes that feels like a desperately assembled playlist. The one thing singled out for complaint is the relentless, oppressive parade of short song snippets that undercuts any sentimentality.