MOVIE REVIEWS Kids: Sing2

BY BONNIE L. HARRIS

HOLLYWOOD NOW CALLS A film like Sing 2 an animated “jukebox” musical, which underscores the very large part played by the toe-tapping soundtrack and the famous pop voices accompanying almost every scene. For audiences, it’s extra oomph in an already fun-filled story of a little group of singers hoping to hit the big time. Original writer/director Garth Jennings returns for Sing 2 and adds his light-hearted, comedic touch to the wacky new characters who join the familiar cast of Buster Moon, Rosita, Meena, Johnny, Ash, and Miss Crawly. In this new installment, Buster Moon, their starry-eyed koala manager, sets his sites on taking the singers to Redshore City, which looks remarkably like Las Vegas, to audition for the CEO of Crystal Entertainment. Weaseling their way on stage is no easy task, but when roughtough Jimmy Crystal mistakenly hears that Buster knows reclusive rock ‘n roll legend, Clay Calloway, he immediately hires the group to put on a show. Unfortunately, this white lie leads to mayhem when Buster has to not only organize a sci-fi musical extravaganza, but also coax Clay Calloway out of retirement. Porcupine Ash steps in to help convince Clay to return to the stage while gorilla Johnny meets street-cat Nooshy, who teaches him some exciting new dance moves. Shy elephant Meena meets the pachyderm of her dreams, but is too trunk-tied to talk to him. And mama-pig Rosita struggles with being replaced by newcomer Porsha, a sophisticated she-wolf with an attitude. It seems the show will end in disaster even before the curtain rises, but eventually the music comes shining through, as does the enthusiastic audience. Sing 2 pushes the envelope with songs, dance, animation, and sight gags that makes this sequel just as entertaining as the original. And be sure to watch the credits. ✦

Illumination & Universal Pictures, Rated: PG In theatres & streaming on Amazon Last minute rehearsal.

MUNICH, THE EDGE OF WAR Turbine Studios, Rated: PG-13 Streaming on Netflix

SLOW-MOVING AND METHODICAL, Munich, The Edge of War, pulls apart the subtle details of a pivotal moment in history when the world might have avoided catastrophe, but only if someone had stepped in to make a fateful choice. Based on the popular historical novel by Robert Harris, the story pivots on two friends, one British and one German, who might have stopped WWII. Hugh Legat works as private secretary to Neville Chamberlain while he negotiates with an increasingly dangerous Adolf Hitler. Across the channel, Paul Hartmann works as a translator in the German foreign office while secretly leading an underground resistance movement. Hartmann comes into possession of documents proving Hitler’s plan for European conquest and he’s determined to pass them to Legat for Chamberlain. Efforts are thwarted at every turn, communication is garbled, and roadblocks are cemented, but the friends eventually reunite in the city of Munich. The documents land in the right hands, but fate proves that diplomacy is tricky business. No spoilers here, but we all know what eventually happens after Chamberlain declares “peace for our time.” Definitely a film for history buffs, Munich, The Edge of War, is a fascinating examination of what might have been.

Facing the Nazi truth.