--- title: "Sing: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/sing/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/sing" critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 23 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Sing (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 66 from 23 reviews: 14 positive, 6 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics find Sing an enjoyable family film, with praise clustering around its musical performances, varied song choices and lively audition sequence. The warmer reviews also value the contestants’ backstage troubles and personal reasons for singing, finding enough warmth in the characters to carry a familiar talent-contest story. Several critics judge the sentimentality earned, particularly when the performances are given space to supply the emotion. The reservations concern predictable plotting, crowded storytelling and characters whose problems receive too little attention. The spread is wide: some critics find modest pleasures in the formula, while others regard it as commercially calculated and empty. IndieWire takes the harsher view, praising the singing voices but finding the character work hurried and the musical performances chopped up. Den of Geek offers a clear contrast, finding the story cohesive and the characters’ motivations emotionally grounded. Even among supporters, enthusiasm for the music often exceeds admiration for the script. ## Little White Lies — Manuela Lazic Rating 3/4/3. 27 January 2017. Lazic finds the film a modest but engaging family feature with a hopeful human message. She especially praises its thoughtful treatment of varied musical styles and its nuanced character experiences. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/sing) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. Johnston finds the film warm-hearted rather than cynical. He praises the backstage dramas of the rival contestants. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-00y96x/sing/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2016. Festival review. Debruge finds “Sing” massively entertaining despite a wobbly script and familiar animated-film clichés. He especially praises the rapid-fire audition sequence and the lively musical performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/sing-review-illumination-entertainment-1201857701/) ## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab Rating ★★★☆☆. 26 January 2017. Macnab finds Sing cheerful and enjoyable, though its story becomes predictable and clumsy. He praises the energetic audition montage, visual gags and well-chosen music. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/film-reviews-roundup-denial-christine-sing-a7545151.html) ## Empire — Chris Hewitt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2017. The critic finds the film overly hectic but ultimately infectious and immensely likeable. They praise Jennings’ love of music, which infuses the film, and its unexpected storytelling quirks. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sing-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2016. Walsh finds the film cute, funny, and entertaining, though its many character stories make the plot feel overly busy. She praises the catchy soundtrack and the fun of its singing-animal performances. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-sing-review-20161216-story.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2016. Festival review. Felperin finds the film corny but ultimately joyful, with its final stretch of performances making the sentimentality work. She especially praises the vocal performances and the visual and musical pleasures of the show. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/sing-review-927674/) ## Screen Daily — David D'Arcy Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2016. Festival review. The page identifies this as a Toronto review, but the review text is behind a paywall. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/sing-toronto-review/5109357.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2016. The review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the accessible page. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/20/movies/sing-review-matthew-mcconaughey.html) ## The Guardian — Jordan Hoffman Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2016. Festival review. Hoffman finds the film formulaic and uninspiring as cinema, though its familiar pop-song formula works on its own terms. He praises the animation in the flooding-theatre scene and the comic car-wash sequence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/12/sing-review-scarlett-johansson-toronto-film-festival-matthew-mcconaughey) ## Vulture — Sarah Miller Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2016. The critic finds Sing charming and entertaining, but ultimately bland and lacking a reason for its animal characters. She praises its appealing performers and crowd-pleasing musical moments while faulting its formulaic, unoriginal approach. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/12/review-sing-is-charming-but-bland.html) ## Slant Magazine — Kenji Fujishima Rating 1.5/4. 16 December 2016. Fujishima finds the film shallow, commercially driven, and lacking in artistic passion. He singles out the inventive breakfast-making gag, while criticizing the thin characterizations and the film’s use of musical theater as an excuse for an animated singing contest. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/sing/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating D-. 16 December 2016. Ehrlich pans the film as cynical, soulless, and creatively bankrupt. He praises the cast’s singing voices, especially Taron Egerton’s, while criticizing the hurried character work and chopped-up musical performances. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/sing-review-matthew-mcconaughey-illumination-1201728515/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 December 2016. Hammond calls the film a genuine crowd-pleaser with heart and holiday appeal. He particularly praises its lively music, first-rate animation, and Jennifer Hudson’s showstopping performance. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2016/12/sing-review-music-movie-jennifer-hudson-stevie-wonder-ariana-grande-video-1201864884/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4/5. 26 January 2017. The critic finds Sing a warm, enjoyable animated adventure with a cohesive story. He especially praises its likeable characters and their varied, emotionally grounded reasons for singing. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/sing-review/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2017. The critic finds the film a charming, fun-hearted take on the talent-contest formula. They single out its humor and the lively characters for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/sing-2016-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Consequence — Blake Goble Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2016. Goble finds Sing a spirited, enjoyable family film despite its familiar plot and commercial polish. He especially praises its lively cast of characters and the enthusiasm the filmmaking brings to its musical performances. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/12/film-review-sing/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2016. Festival review. The headline gives the film a positive, crowd-pleasing verdict. It singles out its pitch-perfect animation, though the blocked page prevents confirming further details. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/sing-pitch-perfect-crowd-pleasing-animation-thats-compliment-toronto-review-20160911/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2016. Festival review. The critic finds the film uneven at first but ultimately rousing and genuinely emotional. They single out its emotional final stretch and the effectiveness of its pop songs. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/sing-review-illumination-animated-musical/) ## /Film — Angie Han Rating 6.0 out of 10. 19 December 2016. Han finds the film a light, sweet crowdpleaser that is fun but quickly forgotten. She praises the varied song choices and musical performances, while criticizing underdeveloped character storylines. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/546478/sing-review/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film thin on substance but ultimately entertaining, with a surprisingly delightful ending. It praises the finale’s emotional payoffs and energetic song-and-dance spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/sing-film-review-1959971) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C. 21 December 2016. Goldberg finds the film passable but overly content to favor popularity over originality. He criticizes the brief, fragmented use of familiar pop songs, which rarely lets the music tell a story. [Read the review](https://collider.com/sing-review-matthew-mcconaughey/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds Sing formulaic and lacking heart, and expects viewers seeking a more compelling story to be disappointed. They praise Leslie Jones’s comic performance as Ms. Crawl as the film’s most consistently funny element. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/sing-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/sing.md