The sequel to the 2016 animated musical comedy reunites much of the original cast of anthropomorphic singing animals taking on classic rock and pop tracks as optimistic koala Buster (Matthew McConaughey) and his all-star pals prepare to launch a new stage show in the world’s entertainment capital. “There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut,” reads the description.
As part of Buster’s attempt to move the show to the Crystal Tower Theater in dazzling Redshore City, he ropes in pals Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), rocker porcupine Ash (Scarlett Johansson), earnest gorilla Johnny (Taron Egerton), shy elephant Meena (Tori Kelly) and porcine provocateur Gunter (Nick Kroll) as they try to sneak their way into the Crystal Entertainment offices, which are run by ruthless mogul wolf Jimmy Crystal (Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale).
“We wanted to see the characters go on a journey that would test their ambitions,” writer/director Garth Jennings told EW. “It’s all very nice to say to people, ‘follow your dreams,’ but the story’s about just how hard that is.” With Bono a fan of his work, Jennings said the rock legend came on board after a long convo about the “nature of singing and how ‘some people sing for a living and some people sing to survive.'”
Jennings told EW he “couldn’t believe [Bono’s] enthusiasm for it,” noting that the singer “channeled his feline side” for the original song and for the character. “The band recorded this amazing U2 song,” said Jennings. “It’s just full of so much emotion and heart and literally did exactly what he said in that first phone call. It just says, ‘Okay, here’s how we want your audience to feel as they leave the cinema.'”
U2 doubled-down on their TikTockery with a 30-second greatest hits mix featuring images from some of their most iconic videos soundtracked by “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “Vertigo,” “Mysterious Ways,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “Beautiful Day.”
Listen to “Your Song Saved My Life” and the compilation video below.
