Reese's New Movie Is More Inspiring Than You Think

If the trailer is any indication, the upcoming animated movie Sing looks exactly like what the doctor ordered. On one hand, it's your standard Christmas cinematic fare: packed to the rafters with cute animated animals, A-list talent (Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, and Seth MacFarlane star alongside Reese Witherspoon), and a fun storyline, where plucky animals compete for the first prize on a The Voice-esque singing competition. But actually, it's so much more than the average holiday flick. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Witherspoon explained how Sing operates on a deeper level.

The Legally Blonde alum waxed lyrical about the way the movie has a message more universal than just animals competing in a singing competition. She told EW,

“There’s something really wish-fulfilling about it all. We all have secret desires and part of us feels like no one sees our real talent, or our sort of true self. My character is the mom who does everything for everybody, and nobody seems to notice that she has bigger dreams and desires. I think there’s something really beautiful about our secret dreams being fulfilled.”

This quote is surprisingly exciting to read. After all, this is coming from Witherspoon, who is about as far away from her character as you can get. Sure, she's a wife and mother in real-life, but she first rocketed to success at an incredibly young age, thanks to her turn as Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions . She was just 23 when that movie came out.

However, it's likely that Witherspoon, like everyone else on the planet, has things she's incredibly passionate about that she still hasn't checked off her to-do list. And maybe, as the film's trailer suggests, that's why the whole concept of music talent competitions strikes such a chord with audiences, and why there will never be enough of those competitions. These shows move beyond stereotyping people at first glance. Whether you're a downtrodden mom or a petty criminal or simply someone's granddaughter, you could still be the country's next great vocal talent. The animal aspect of the film seems doubly meaningful based on Witherspoon's spin — it suggests that you may not necessarily fit the aesthetic of the cliched pop star, but that doesn't mean you don't have the talent to be a star.

Just as Witherspoon extended this concept further in her quote, you can too: This isn't just about singing competitions. The movie is about embracing the thing you've always wanted to do, forgetting about your circumstances (whatever they may be), and going full throttle toward your goal. If even Witherspoon, one of the most luminous women to ever grace a cinema screen, can identify with unfulfilled dreams, it's nothing to be ashamed about. If anything, it gives you all the more reason to chase after your biggest goals.

Images: Universal Pictures