There is Spy Action with THE 355

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Simon Kinberg and Universal Pictures is the story of a drive, world domination and the women who will not let that happen with THE 355.

In Bogata, Columbia, there is a deal being made regarding a drive that is dangerous to the world. When a raid takes place, the drive falls into the hands of DNI Agent Rojas (Edgar Ramirez) and he is now on the run. Contacting the U.S. Government about the drive, CIA officer Mace Browne (Jessica Chastain) and Nick Fowler (Sebastian Stan) are off to Paris to negotiate for the drive.

But chaos breaks out when Rojas runs and someone else joins the mix. German BND agent Marie Schmidt (Diane Kruger) is looking for the same drive but the missions get twisted. Rojas is found by SNI psychologist Garciela (Penelope Cruz) to bring in Rojas. Mace turns to former British MI6 agent Khadijah (Lupita Nyong’o) for her special skills with computers to try and locate who has the drive and where it could be heading.

It forces Mace, Marie, Graciela and Khadijah to join forces using each of their special skills to find the drive leading them to Chinese MSS agent Sheng (Fan Bingbing). At an auction house, the drive is put up for bid but there is more going on than the women could know and betrayal is not far behind.

Chastain as Mace leads the group of women on what should have been a clean sweep in Paris. Joining forces with three other women means they have to always be one step ahead even if they feel one step behind. Chastain’s character is tough but that does not mean her emotional side is hidden – especially when she is looking for her own bit of revenge.

Nyong’o as Khadijah is savvy, fast and knows exactly what to do to get the job done. Motivated to help her friend Mace, she also becomes motivated but something much more powerful. Nyong’o gives her character tech-savvy that is pretty darn awesome.

Kruger as Marie has a history of being betrayed so it is something that she seems to be use to. She makes it consistently clear that she does not want a partner in anything she does, except now she needs all the women to get this dangerous job done. Kruger is awesome in this role and a chance to see her get tough!

Cruz as Garciela makes it clear from the start that she is a psychologist with the agent in Columbia and not an actual gun-toting agent. Worried about her family as the mission becomes more and more dangerous, something inside Cruz’s character clicks and she does her part to stop the madness. Bingbing as Sheng has a mission of her own and it is never clear what side she is on – until it is time to know it. She is the calm one in the midst of all the chaos and that can be just as powerful as holding a weapon!

Stan as Fowler is an agent that has worked with Mace before and there are subtle hints about the ending of their personal relationship. That does not stop them from being sent to Paris together to find the drive. Things go wrong and become complicated for the two as the world-wide search for the elusive drive begins.

Other cast include Emilio Insolera as the Hacker, Jason Wong as Stevens, John Thompson as Larry Marks, Hiten Patel as Ahmed-Imam, Leo Staar as Grady and Oleg Kricunov as Pyotr Khasanov.

THE 355 is an action-packed film that keeps the guessing and the jaunt around the world quick and intense. The title of the film is based on Agent 355, a woman spy during the American Revolution who worked for the patriots.

Coming in at 124-minutes, there is no moment of peace as the story plays out from the moment the film opens until it becomes clear who these women truly are. The are up against a world of men who want power and the ability to corrupt but those same men never expected to be up against “a bunch of girls”.

That was their first mistake.

In the end – work together or die alone!

ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU Runs onto Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and DVD from director Ryoo Seung-wan and Well Go USA Entertainment is the drama thriller based on true events with ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU.

It is 1991 in Mogadishu as diplomats from both South and North Korea attempt to find their place and make deals with dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. Tensions are high and each move by all embassy's is carefully coordinated.

In the South Korean Embassy, Han Sin-seong (Kim Yoon-seok) is in charge of the embassy along with wife Kim (Kim So-jin) and their children. His staff with Intelligence Officer Kang (Jo In-sung), secretary Gong (Jung Man-sik), translator Park (Park Kyung-hye and Jo Soo-jin (Kim Jae-hwa) keep their government informed of what is happening.

At the North Korean Embassy, Ambassador Rim Yong-su (Heo Joon-ho) has his family along with Intelligence Officer (Tae (Koo Kyo-hwan). The two Ambassadors are trying to keep their connections for doing business in Somalia and are competing with one another. That is until there is an uprising in the streets, and it becomes larger and larger with gunfighting in the street.

Ambassador Han and Kang immediately realize they must get the families and staff out of Mogadishu and learn that the flights have been cancelled. Returning to the embassy, communications and the electricity go out and the only thing they can do is stay indoors with some help from a few soldiers from Barre's military.

At the North Korean embassy, Ambassador Rim is also attempting to take care of the families and staff. As the streets become overrun with fighters and military, there are those who are looking to ransack the embassies. When Rim's office is attacked, they are warned to get out and they gather up to go through the streets.

Being chased and trying to stay alive, the North Koreans find themselves in front of the South Korean embassy. As the gunfighting is less than five feet away, the soldiers manage to push it at bay as Ambassador Han agrees to let them in. Immediately there are tensions and misunderstandings, but one thing is clear, they need to find a way to survive.

There is no time to be enemies when there are new enemies at the gate!

Yoon-seok as Ambassador Han just wants to do his job and do it well. Looking to make a working arrangement with Barre's government, he feels defeated by the North Koreans at every turn. Once events turn badly, Yoon-seok gives his character suspicion that leads to an understanding he never thought was possible, well done.

Joon-ho as Ambassador Rim is a very straight forward man who knows that he is up against Ambassador Han and will also do anything to get a step ahead. When the fighting in the street starts, he has to make difficult decisions but as with Ambassador Han, it is the mistrust that hinders until the truth becomes clear.

In-sung as Kang lets Han know that helping the North Koreans is the right thing to do and even tries, however misguided, to help. This character has heart and will do anything to get everyone and I mean everyone out alive. Kyo-hwan as Tae is a little different, more angry and more determined to believe that the South Koreans are up to something that will harm them.

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.

Bonus Features include Production Documentaries, Making of ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU and Trailers.

Doris Pfardrescher of Well Go USA Entertainment says of ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU that it "is both a gripping and important watch, made even more so by the production team's careful study of surviving embassy records and historical accounts in order to create the most realistic possible depiction of the circumstances. The film portrays this almost unfathomable event that throws the horrors of war into sharp relief."

ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU won Best Film, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography Award, Best Music Award and Star of the Year Award at the 20th Buil Film Awards.

The film begins at a pace that lets us get to know each of the characters and then rips into high gear once the coup begins between the rioters and the government. That is when the true heart of these characters begins to show themselves. Knowing from the onset that there was a divide between these two countries (as well as knowing it still exists), there are moments where the story causes intensity that they might be their own worst enemy.

Instead, the film gives us the opportunity to see that through talking (as much as they can while trying to get from A to B without death), these two groups of people are just that - people. One of the two countries forces decisions on the group and the other country puts pressure on being successful. When they are left on their own, they become - just people.

People who get to know one another on a level that most of us will never know in our lifetime. Sharing more than food with one another, they share bits of their own story that make the other even more aware that when you strip down all the garbage, they each love their family's and just want to go home.

Coming in at 121 minutes, prepare for intensity, action, and ingenuity that makes the film time go so quickly to and ending that will break hearts as well as bring on conversation.

In the end - they must run to live!

THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF Brings Mystery to Season 2

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently streaming on Tropic with Season 1 in time to catch up before Season 2 from writer/director Arian Moayed is the mysterious tale of one phone call and the trail into a different world with THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF.

Katie Bonner (Kelli O’Hara) is married to successful husband Bradley (Mike Doyle) with his influential father. She is used to that considering she has issues with her own mother (Judith Ivey). Raising a beautiful baby girl, Katie keeps her days as busy as she can. That is until one night she receives a telephone call that is about to change her life.

Almost immediately Katie can hear the sound of people running, bombs exploding and people screaming. The name she hears over and over is Tala, as the man on the phone does not understand that he has reached the wrong person. Katie tries to make them understand but learns that Tala is pregnant.

Thinking she had lost them on the cell phone, Katie all of a sudden hears a distinctive American voice ask a question. She hangs up quickly only to have the call returned. Telling her husband not to answer the phone is not enough. Soon after there is banging on the door and now, she is in front of someone from the government asking her questions about what she could possibly know.

Katie contends over and over that she does not know anything and that the call was not for her. When those questioning her feel she is not a threat, Katie can not get the call out of her head. Making notes from what she remembers, her family is not happy that she will not let the issue go.

So unhappy about it all that both sides of the family begin to try and quell Katie into submission. Now she must be mover clever than those around her – play the game to keep her child and play the game to get answers as to ‘who is Tala?’ and ‘where is she?’. Katie finds Ram (Laurie Metcalf) who leads her to Buja (Sahr Ngaujah) but with every step there are drones following her.

Constantly being confronted by her family, Katie is finding something within her that she did not know was there – a desire to break away from the constraints put on by Bradley and his father. Also, the determination to find the woman who has haunted her since that very first phone call!

O’Hara as Katie opens the season with an all-to-familiar look at motherhood. Trying to be everything for everyone, she is beginning to show the signs of strain. That phone call changed everything she thought about herself and those around her. She is living dangerously and at the same time driven to find someone she knows nothing about. O’Hara gives us a round of emotions in season one that are intense and frustrating, get ready for season two because Katie got her groove back.

Ngaujah as Buja is making sure that Katie knows that one more step further into finding Tala means she is stepping into a world that could get her killed. Katie continues to call and follow Buja until he tells her things that are even scarier. Ngaujah is strong but man there are moments where crazy eye comes into play. Giving his character what is necessary to protect his people, I can not wait to see where Ngaujah takes this role.

Metcalf as Ram is just out and out frightening, and I loved every moment of it. She is gritty, harsh, and gives this character a cloak and dagger feel. I have to say that Ram is a character that will not hesitate to bring death close if you pushed her.

Doyle as husband Bradley is pretty much what you would expect for a successful, rich narcissistic child of a successful, rich narcissistic father. He wants things done his way and expects Katie to do it without question. Doyle makes sure we do not like him from the moment he is on screen giving character Bradly the look and feel of someone Katie needs to get far away from – but there is a price.

Ivey as Katie’s mother is opinionated and sometimes takes it all too far. She makes Katie’s life a tad miserable with the way she thinks things ought to be done. Siding with Bradley and not understanding Katie’s need to find Tala causes friction between mother and daughter.

The cast includes Mike Doyle, Ben McKenzie, Amy Landecker, Raul Castillo, Erin Wilhelmi, Sahr Ngaujah, Denis O’Hare, Judith Ivey and Laurie Metcalf.

Season One includes the episodes Who Is This?, You Deserve It, What Is It That You Want?, and 50/50. Season Two begins with The Temptress and Father Figure.

Topic is the boundary-pushing streaming service for thrillers, mysteries, dramas and documentaries from around the world, serving viewers who crave entertainment beyond the mainstream. Whether it’s a Nordic-noir crime thriller (The Killing), a back-stabbing, an Italian political drama (The Miracle), or a mind-blowing supernatural mystery from Russia (Dead Mountain), Topic expands your view of the world. For more of what Topic has to offer please visit www.topic.com.

THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF is an intense drama filled with intrigue, questions and more intrigue. Coming in at 25 minutes per episode, it is frustrating in a good way and makes binging totally amazing. O’Hara gives us a character we want to shout at, then we want her to keep going only to shout at the television again!

The story is not clogged up with special effects or drawn out with distractions. Instead, the story keeps us moving forward and trying to put a puzzle together given only a tiny piece at a time. Of course those of us who have seen season one are speculating constantly about how everything could possibly be connect – and it is fun!

Season Two of THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF will be on Topic December 30^th, giving everyone time to catch up with the rest of us as Season One is available also.

In the end – who is Tala?

He Wonders About the LAST WORDS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently showing from writer/director Jonathan Nossiter and Bleecker Street is the story of the future and what it means to have the LAST WORDS.

It is 2085 and the world has been destroyed! Kal (Kalipha Touray) is struggling to find food and water for his sister. Every move they make can bring them closer to either dying from malnutrition or at the hands of other people who are also trying to survive. After an attack from survivors, Kal is on the road to find something better.

Trying to find a place to rest, Kal comes across mysterious and frightening noises that send him running. Deciding he wants to confront his fears, he discovers a man named Shakespeare (Nick Nolte) who wants nothing to do with the interloper – at least at that moment. Yet there is something intriguing about Kal and Shakespeare decides to show him what caused the fright.

In the deepest part of the building, Shakespeare shows him the films he has managed to same from the destructive world around them. Kal can not believe what his eyes are seeing and hearing. He wants more and more and soon becomes a quiet roommate who only talks with Shakespeare when the elder gentleman wants to.

But Shakespeare decides it is time for Kal to go but when Kal pushes back, the two end up on the road to Athens to see if there are any others in the world. Once they get there, they are shocked to discover Zyberski (Stellan Skarsgard), Batlk (Charlotte Rampling), Dima (Alba Rohrwacher) and so many more. They have food, water and a view of the ocean that, in post-apocalyptic time might have been awesome.

Bringing the films and parts to build a camera, Kal begins to document living with this group of people with their smiles, stories, and good times in the midst of craziness. That is all about to change and Kal knows that he is the one responsible for documenting everything to, as Shakespeare said, leave behind something wonderful.

Touray as Kal is stunning, beautiful, with soulful eyes that tell the story from the characters heart and point of view. Trying to survive has one meaning in the beginning but by finding others, surviving becomes something more amazing. His world becomes so much bigger and more colorful with emotions that he takes into the core of his being. That’s what Touray does for this character, and it is mesmerizing.

Nolte as Shakespeare comes from the world prior to it collapsing into dust. He has the memories of a childhood filled with the things we take for granted and the wonderment of singing, dancing and the storytelling that lives in the film cannisters. Nolte has moments of sheer delight sharing time with Kal, and there are moments where the world he created for himself does not have room for anyone else. I just loved watching his character evolve.

Skarsgard as Zyberski is the doctor for all the people that have come together to live in Athens. He takes in Kal and Shakespeare without any question or any conditions. He makes it clear that they all share together, all live together, and he feels a sense of responsibility for all those in his care. Skarsgard is always the stable center of stories he is involved in and in LAST WORDS he does the same, but his character is also unexpected.

Rampling as Batlk is a woman who has made her peace with how they are surviving with a little surprise of her own. I am always thrilled to see Rampling on the screen. Rohrwacher as Dima begins to share feelings with Touray and it is so sweet to watch their characters share in the simple things like the stars. Both of these women bring a sweetness to the rough edges of a futuristic scary world.

Other cast includes Silvia Calderoni, Nicolas Sacrez, Giulio Esposito, Ivan Marzano, Roberta Mattei, Cosimo Desii, Andreina Liotti, Jun Ichikawa, Fiorenzo Madonna, Vincenzo Del Prete, Giovanni Trono, Maryam d’Abo and Osemwenoghogho Wilfred.    

Bleecker Street is a New York City film company that has brought outstanding films to the public. Their library includes TRUMBO, DENIAL, THE LOST CITY OF Z, BEIRUT, HOTEL MUMBAI, ORDINARY LOVE and THE ROADS NOT TAKEN. For more information on the titles from Bleeker Street please visit www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com.

LAST WORDS is a beautiful look at relationships when they are stripped of everything but humanity. There are those in the world who have turned to very frightening ways to survive, but when Kal and Shakespeare find one another, it becomes clear that being alone is not always the answer.

I loved every scene that Nolte and Touray have together as they get to know one another and Shakespeare lights up when given the opportunity to teach Kal everything he knows about film. Kal also is a teacher in helping to release Shakespeare’s need to feel that being alone is the only way avoid pain.

Mix in Skarsgard and Rampling and you have such a wonderful cast telling a story that has lived life their way and on their terms.

In the end – he is about to experience life in the midst of destruction!

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on HBO Max and in theatres from director Lana Wachowski and Warner Bros. Pictures is the revival and reveals with THE MATRIX RESSURECTIONS.

Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is living in San Francisco working on making video games with partner Smith (Jonathan Groff). Feeling like there is something out of sync with him, Anderson sees an Analyst (Neil Patrick Harris) to keep things on an even keel while taking medication.

What he does not know is that Bugs (Jessica Henwick) is the captain of the Mnemosyne and feels it is on her to find The One – find Neo. Unexpectedly, she finds a changed Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen) and is surprised to learn what he has been doing. Along with her crew Shepherd (Max Riemelt), Berg (Brian J. Smith), Lexy (Erendira Ibarra), and Freya (Telma Hopkins), the find Neo.

Anderson has a difficult time accepting everything, especially when Bugs and Morpheus show up with a red pill and blue pill. Anderson remembers Neo but especially remembers his love Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). Seeing her in a coffee shop, he is upset to learn that the woman’s name is Tiffany, and she is married with children.

Neo decides it is time to follow what has been plaguing him and discovers the deception that has been happening in his life for over sixty years. Seeing Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith), it all begins to come together as it is time to discover the changes in the Matrix. A woman named Sati (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) has a plan and what it means for Neo, Trinity and all those living in reality.

Reeves as Anderson/Neo is just so damn cool its ridiculous. Returning to his life as Thomas Anderson, he becomes wealthy by creating a video game based on the Matrix. People eat it up but now, Warner Bros. wants more! Not sure he wants to have anything to do with more, Anderson becomes unsure of what is happening to him. Reeves gives us that uncertainty and feeling that there is something else out there. He is and will also be associated with Neo and I am pretty darn okay with that.

Moss as Tiffany/Trinity has the same itch that Anderson/Neo does about something just not being right with their world. The conversation between the two in the coffee shop is just so amazing as it feels like no time has passed between these two characters and their acting to one another. Trinity was already a bad-ass, but now she gets to step up her game.

Henwick as Bugs starts looking for Neo even though she has no permission to do so. Of course, Neo is a legend but that is not why she is trying to find him. Something is wrong and she wants to make sure they find him before he becomes just a memory. Henwick gives her character a strength and tenacity to bring Neo back to ‘us’.

Abdul-Mateen as Morpheus has some of the original Fishburne characteristics but as a changed and younger version, he handles this role with care. It has to be difficult to follow in someone elses’ role but Abdul-Matten slides right in and still gives us Morpheus but with an upgrade as it were. Jonas as Sati gives us another look down matrix-memory lane and has a reason for wanting to help Neo find answers and well as Trinity. She handles this role with grace.

Smith as Niobe brought her game and I still do not like this character and for all the same reasons. That’s not a bad that, it just shows that Smith could slide back into a role and not skip a beat. Older and still a non-believer, everyone just goes around her orders to do what needs doing until she realizes it better to go along to get along. Groff as Smith is a happy ex-agent who is living in the matrix and enjoying getting to do whatever he wants for who ever he wants. I sort of enjoy that!

Harris as The Analyst wants Anderson to focus on trying to forget about the memories he has and what brought him to therapy in the first place. The problem is that the medications are not working and there is a reason for that. You have to discover that for yourself. I truly enjoyed Harris’ performance and he made it look like so much fun.

Other cast include Christina Ricci as Gwyn de Vere, Toby Onwumere as Sequoia, Michael X. Sommers as Skroce, L. Trey Wilson as Hanno, Chad Stahelski as Chad and Lambert Wilson as The Merovingian and appearances by Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Hugo Weaving as Smith, and Tanveer K. Atwal as Sati.

Warner Brothers is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainments with worldwide distribution to DVD and Bluray, animation, comic books, videogames and broadcasting. For more please visit www.warnerbros.com.

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS gives us a bit of the past with Neo and the present with a possibility of the future of franchise. Just seeing the journey Anderson must go through to believe he is Neo (not so much The One as just Neo) is also a chance for Reeves to expand on his character. When we are introduced to his character in 1999 but it slams into the Matrix pretty quick without us knowing a lot about Thomas Anderson. It is interesting to see him in the un-real world.

It is also cool that they chose to expand Trinity’s storyline as it becomes a huge reason for Anderson to reconnect with Neo. The always were better together than they were apart, so it makes sense. That being said, the twists and turns and unexpected character returns had me pointing and kind of smiling because getting rid of everyone would have really irked me.

In the end – it has been another life beyond The One!

RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from director Eiichiro Hasumi and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment comes the four episodes with RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness.

It is the year 2000 and one of the helicopters from the United States is taken down in Penamstan. The crew is in danger, but the Mad Dogs are sent in to safe them. Years later, it is discovered that those rescued were exposed to a bioweapon and with that the White House is hacked, and employees have become exposed.

Believing that the attack has come from China, a group are sent on a covert mission. Leon (Nick Apostolides), Shen May (Jona Xiao), and Jason (Ray Chase) are sent to set things right but not before Leon learns it was Claire (Stephanie Panisello) who learned of the bioweapon.

As the group heads to China, Claire decides to research what happened to the original Mad Dogs. But everything turns dangerous for all of them when the submarine is attacked, and the group discovers interference in the midst. Claire digs and finds more of a history than she ever imagined. Now Leon learns that Jason and Shen May have their own agenda.

Claire is looking for the Mad Dogs and learns about Penamstan. Leon discovers where Shen May has gone and there is a history with her family that he did not know about. Trying to expose Wilson (Doug Stone) and the part he played in the bioweapon and Mad Dogs will prove deadly. Leon also does not know that Claire has been kidnapped because of what she is doing.

President Graham (Joe J. Thomas) is working on peace talks with Penamstan but does not know that Wilson is building a super army. Leon and Shen May take on Wilson and Jason has his own way of dealing with what is happening.

Other vocal cast include Billy Kametz as Patrick and Brad Venable as Ryan.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

Bonus Materials include The 30-Minute Special Feature: The Making of RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness.

RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness is an amazing look into this world created by Shogo Mutoh and Elichiro Hasumi. What I truly enjoyed was the way the story unfolded and forgetting that this is a CGI series which is when it is the most fun.

The first series in Resident Evil history has finally come to Bluray in time for us all to enjoy the amazing creativity and storytelling. Although I may be a fan of Christmas films from time to time, what I really enjoy is binging on something so out of ‘tradition’ that it will secretly become a new holiday un-tradition.

There are secrets, lies, mystery and a band trying to stop the earth from falling into the wrong hands. Looking for answers, not knowing who to trust and betrayal all comes calling in this film so be careful who you trust!

The vocal talent lends itself to the action and adventure that only Resident Evil can give. It is time to remember why we all love the series to much so prepare for it all with RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness.

In the end – there is a threat to the nation that must be stopped!

 

Family Fun is Here with SING 2

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres for the holiday week from writer/director Garth Jennings, Illumination and Universal Pictures is the joy of song with SING 2.

Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) is making a hit out of the rebuilt theatre and has invited talent scout Suki (Chelsea Peretti) to come and see what his troupe could do. After being told that they could not make it in the entertainment capital of Redshore City, it is Nana Noodleman (Jennifer Saunders) who tells him to go for it or go home.

Moon decides that he needs to gather the team to see mogul Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale). Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), Johnny (Taron Egerton), Ash (Scarlett Johansson), Gunter (Nick Kroll), Meena (Tori Kelly) jump on a bus and follow their musical leader all the way to Redshore City. Sneaking in to see Crystal, they wow him, and the group has three weeks to get the show going.

There is one hitch, the star of the show, Rosita, is replaces by Crystal’s daughter Porsha (Halsey). Moon also promises them that the legendary and reclusive Clay Calloway (Bono) will take to the stage. Now, with the help of Gunter, everyone has to work on the space adventure on stage. Johnny is dancing but gets serious lessons from street wise Nooshy (Letitia Wright), Meena is being romantic for the first time in her life, Rosita is a little different and Ash is determined to get Calloway!

It is Crystal who misunderstands an incident with Porsha that sets in motion chaos but that will not stop the gang from banding together and show off what they are truly made of – together.

McConaughey is back as the theatre owner who dreams larger than life. Wanting more for himself and the group, he reaches for the stars and although he hits bumps along the way, with the back of friends – they will all find their way into space! Cannavale as Crystal is a wolf of a man who finds humor in scaring everyone. Giving Moon a chance to create a show that will make him more money than he needs, it also comes with scary strings attached.

Witherspoon as Rosita is back to find herself challenged but still surrounded by loving friends and an always expanding family who love her so much. Kelly as Meena is back on the stage but this time has to come face to face with a romantic role that gives her pause and a bit of fear. Kroll as Gunter has his chance to shine in this film coming up with a stage theme that shoots off like a rocket.

Egerton as Johnny gets the chance to do something he really has not done before – dance with his musical number. Wright as Nooshy gets the chance to show Johnny that it is the music that will make his feet move in amazing ways. Peretti as Suki does not think Moon and the gang can make the impossible possible, that is her first mistake.

Johansson as Ash never forgets who she is and what she is capable of. Once she decides to make sure Calloway shows up, she is in it until the end. Bono as Calloway is, dare I say, awesome getting his paws wet in the animation world. Halsey as Porsha is a spoiled little girl who has a fit that had the potential to ruin everything, until she gets a wake-up call.

Shout out to Saunders as Nana Noodleman – she is the heart and soul of the group whether they know it or not. Tough but supportive and elegant as all get out. I just love this character.

Other cast include Adam Buxton as Klaus Kickenklober, Nick Offerman as Norman, Eric Andre as Darius, Julia Davis as Linda Le Bon, Spike Jonze as Jerry, Peter Serafinowicz as Big Daddy, Pharrell Williams as Alfonso and Garth Jennings as Mrs. Crawley.

SING 2 is exactly what you would expect from Illumination; colorful, musical, lively, adventuresome, friendship, loyalty, creative and most of all absolute fun to watch. The characters have a chance to work through things in a productive way that is a lesson to the younger (and young at heart) kids watching.

We all embraced the gang in the first film SING released in 2016 and watched their antics and loved the music. Here it is five years later, and nothing has changed (in a good way) and it feels wonderful to catch up with old friends.

The holiday season is a time to get together and celebrate everything that is good so gather up the family, extended family and friends to have a wonderful time. Prepare to find yourself singing, toe tapping and enjoying every moment of SING 2.

In the end – where will your dreams take you?