Cinematic simians are no strangers to big tunes. The Jungle Book’s King Louie swung with I Wanna Be Like You, Clint Eastwood and pal Clyde helped inspire a country hit with Every Which Way But Loose, so it’s only natural the latest ape on the movie block, The One And Only Ivan, is teaming up with the one and only Charlie Puth.

Accompanying the gorilla’s Bryan Cranston-assisted bid to escape captivity, Free was written by songwriter Diane Warren and produced ...