Sing Street Review

“This is your life / you can go anywhere / you gotta grab the wheel and own it, you gotta put the pedal down / and drive it like you stole it” goes the chorus of Sing Street‘s main tune, its infectiously catchy beat providing doses of pure energy to a Back to the Future-inspired prom fantasy sequence. It’s a fitting anthem for the film overall, one that looks to music as a way to escape, as a way to look forward and take control of your life. Everyone in the film is dealing with his or her own personal issues, struggling in some way or another but still finding time to unite through music. “It’s about being happy being sad,” Lucy Boynton’s Raphina says midway through, summing up life and love and the film as a whole.

It’s not exactly the most groundbreaking thematic foundation ever, but John Carney’s script commits to it with an open heart and a constantly tapping foot. It’s definitely fun watching the band form and develop its own music, but the film finds its biggest impact with the relationship between Conor and his older brother Brendan. The latter is the one who encourages the former to write his own music, to take control of life in a way that he couldn’t do himself. This isn’t a film that pretends to be all about realism–in fact, it feels like a fantasy at times–but this relationship certainly feels very real and genuine. Sing Street is a romantic and crowd-pleasing good time at the movies, and it’s anchored by endearing characters, high energy, and most importantly, good music. Drive it like you stole it.

GRADE: B+

Photo credit: Sing Street, Cosmo Films, The Weinstein Company

Tags: a-Ha Take On Me Conor singing to Raphina Sing Street, Aidan Gillen Maria Doyle Kennedy parents divorcing Sing Street, Back to the Future prom fantasy sequence Sing Street, Baxter song masks end of term disco Sing Street, Brendan Conor Raphina London ending Sing Street, Brother Baxter washing makeup off Conor Cosmo Sing Street, Conor changing schools Synge Street Sing Street, Conor Cosmo painting shoes black Sing Street, Conor Cosmo Raphina boat to London ending Sing Street, Costumes make up Lucy Boynton Sing Street, Dalkey Island boat Conor Raphina Sing Street, Darren camera man manager Sing Street, Drive It Like You Stole It Sing Street, Duran Duran The Cure Hall & Oates The Jam Sing Street, Eamon Mark McKenna instruments band Sing Street, End of term disco performance Sing Street, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo Conor Lalor singing Sing Street, For Brothers Everywhere dedication end credits Sing Street, Girls To Find You original songs Sing Street, Jack Reynor Brendan Conor older brother Sing Street, John Carney director Sing Street, John Carney Gary Clark song writers Sing Street, Music video The Riddle of the Model Sing Street, Raphina jumps in water kiss Conor boyfriend Sing Street, Raphina Lucy Boynton music video band model Sing Street, Raphina orphan parents girl's home Sing Street, School bully band Sing Street, Sing Street review, Sing Street soundtrack music original songs