The Barden Bellas are back! After a humiliating wardrobe
malfunction at a Presidential performance, Beca (Anna Kendrick), Fat Amy (Rebel
Wilson) and the rest attempt to regain their reputation by entering an
international acapella competition as yet un-conquered by an American group. As
the competition escalates, the Bellas must face off against legendary
competitors Das Sound Machine, a slick, efficient (and very stereotypically
German) group headed by Krämer (Flula Borg) and Kommissar (Birgitte Hjort
Sørensen).
All anyone wanted from this movie is the same sense of fun,
cobbled-together rebelliousness they got the first time round, and to a large
extent, that’s what we get: all the characters are still engaging and enjoyable
to be around, the new German faces a particular highlight (even if they’re so
two-dimensionally evil you half expect the Imperial March to accompany their every
appearance). A select few of the Bellas (Anna Camp and Hana Mae Lee in
particular) become more memorable for their individual shtick than their actual
names, but the laughs are both plentiful and consistent from start to finish.
The relationships between certain characters are also fleshed out more as some
of them find or lose love, peaking with a stomach-achingly funny set piece
between Fat Amy and Bumper.
For first-time feature director Elizabeth Banks, this is a
sizeable entry for the CV: the film is capably directed, often with a lot more
flair than the previous instalment. The choreography and the music selection is
stronger than the first time around, even if the polished editing and smooth
transitions between numbers lack the mish-mash charm of Pitch Perfect’s fantastic finale. A hint of sequel-itus is also
visible in the middle act as the various sub-plots threaten to slow the
proceedings, until Anna Camp returns and kicks things back into gear.
Pitch Perfect 2 is
flashy, fleeting, and thankfully doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Speaking
as someone who is only a recent convert, I’d be hard pressed to say no to a
third instalment. Heck, this film even got away with a jab at Hayden Christensen,
usually a deal-breaker for yours truly.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
