Movie Review: Sing Street

Sing Street is a delightful film that I hadn't even heard of until very recently. It seemed to completely slip under just about everyone's radar despite the fact that it is easily accessible to many viewers on Netflix. It's easy to say that Sing Street is one of the most surprising movies that I've seen recently. I had few expectations at the movie's start, but it was quick to impress as the plot unfolded.
Sing Street is set in 1980's Ireland during the burgeoning era of pop music and music videos. Conor, a teenager living in Dublin with his family, is transferred to a less expensive school by his parents. He struggles with his new environment and the mistreatment that he faces there from bullies and his new principle. One day, he sees a girl standing across the street from the school and is immediately captivated by her. In order to get her attention, Conor asks her to appear in a music video for his band and she agrees. With the help of several other misfits from his school, Conor assembles a band in the hopes of winning the affection of his new crush.
Sing Street is a deftly executed motion picture that immediately captures the hearts of viewers. It dives so much deeper than its romantic plot as Conor comes to terms with his parents divorce, finds his strength to be his true self and defy his oppressors, and builds the courage to follow his dreams. It's Conor's relationship with his older brother that especially makes this movie shine. These elements combined help transport Sing Street beyond the story of a clichéd romance into a nuanced film that is very relatable among viewers. The characters add even more to this movie, providing a variety of different personalities on screen. Every actor does a stellar job at portraying their role at a perfect volume so to speak, with the whole film relying on the relationships between characters rather than on the shoulders of a single protagonist. I also want to give note to the great soundtrack that Sing Street offers. The score provides a great mix of upbeat pop tracks and melodic ballads that really complete this film. Although Sing Street is a musical, it's done in a way where the soundtrack doesn't completely dilute the plot. Instead, the music perfectly complements the storyline as it unfolds and it provides Sing Street with a bittersweet feeling as the film ends.
In conclusion, Sing Street is a humble film that is made great by interesting characters, a finely woven plot with varying elements that work together well, and a soundtrack that provides the cherry on top. I racked my brain trying to come up with negative aspects of this film, but Sing Street provides a seemingly flawless coming-of-age narrative that is quick to captivate and hard to forget.
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama/Musical

Run Time: 106 minutes

Release Date: April 15, 2016

My Rating: ★★★★★