An energized, heartfelt animated comedy infused with passionate musical numbers and relatable characters, “Sing” by Illumination Entertainment will leave you satisfied and charmed with its familiar climax and talented host of voices.

In an anthropomorphic world of animals comparable to ours, optimistic koala Buster Moon, owner of the Moon Theater, faces financial troubles as his flop productions and compiled debts start to overwhelm him. With the help of his friend Eddie–a sheep voiced by John C. Reilly–and his assistant Ms. Crawly–an elderly iguana voiced by writer and director Garth Jennings–Buster [Matthew McConaughey] plans to host a singing competition with a $1,000 prize to bring life and revenue back to his failing playhouse.

Unfortunately, a mistake causes the flyers announcing the show to be misprinted with a reward of $100,000, and they reach the public before the error can be corrected. Desperate to keep his dreams from crumbling and help his new cast achieve their own, Buster must find a way for the show to go on before he loses his property.

Comforting characterization makes for a charismatic collection of contestants, leaving viewers with at least one animal they can identify with; whether it be overworked housewife and mother Rosita, assertive street performer Mike, reluctant criminal Johnny, shy Meena, exuberant dancer Gunter or rocker Ash. Each singer brings their own distinctive sound to the stage, the power of their voices amplified by the individual struggles–including thought-provoking themes like cheating or marital neglect–they face while working toward one unified goal. The diverse set of backgrounds makes for interesting shenanigans as they prepare for their big show.

Having multiple protagonists becomes a problem, though, when not all characters are given a proper resolution. Various plot holes and a generic premise–we are all familiar with the overused trope of contests like American Idol or The Voice–leave us wanting more development between the singers and a more satisfactory end to their adventures.

This movie is particularly idiosyncratic in that the voice actors all provide their own pipes for the production’s music. The cast list ranges from well known artists such as Tori Kelly and Seth MacFarlane to surprises like Reese Witherspoon and Taron Egerton.

However, while the music itself is impressive, the lack of original songs compared to the 65 plus patented tracks used in the film leaves substance to be desired.

“Sing” is an uplifting, fun picture that, while not revolutionary in its themes, will still leave you laughing and dancing along to the beat.