Review: Pitch Perfect 2
By Christine Petralia
Image courtesy of Universal Films
Pitch Perfect 2
*Contains Spoilers*
May 21, 2015
Why mess with a good thing is exactly what everyone was thinking when the sequel to Pitch Perfect was announced. And then they packed the theaters and were pleasantly surprised that it was exactly the same as the first, with a slightly different plot. Pitch Perfect 2 is full of laughter, entertainment and good music. Rebel Wilson does a great job at stealing the spotlight, whether unintentional or not. Is it cheesy? Yes. Do you love it anyway? Absolutely.
The Barden Bellas are hot. They are on tour, they are the most popular group on campus. And then an unfortunate incident involving wardrobe with Fat Amy (Wilson) on live television in front of the president gets the group suspended from the a capella touring circuit. When Becca (Anna Kendrick) gets word of an international competition, she convinces a capella competition commentators, John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks), to let them back into touring if they win that competition. John and Gail agree, figuring it will never happen as no U.S. has ever won.
As they check out their biggest competitor, Das Sound Machine, at a car show, the Bellas realize pretty quickly they are going to need to step up their game. However, it seems the girls are in a slump, especially since Becca has been suspiciously absent from their campus home, as well as practices. This is because Becca has an internship at a record label, in the hope of getting her foot in the door to become a music producer. She has aspirations, while many of the other Bellas are just focused on the group and not life after they graduate. In particular, Chloe (Brittany Snow), who has failed out three times to stay in school and the group.
In the meantime, the Bellas allow a new member, Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), who is actually the daughter of a former Bella, to join, despite the mandate not to recruit. After an underground sing off, involving other a capella groups, including the German group, the Bellas blow it in the last battle against Das Sound Machine when Emily sings her original song instead of a 90s cover.
Things get pretty heated fast, and the group starts to really mess up the few gigs they get. When things come to a head, Chloe makes the girls go on a retreat to a lodge run by former Bella leader, Aubrey (Anna Camp). During the retreat, the ladies are forced to find their voice together again. And even after Becca reveals why she’s been so absent, the girls do eventually get their groove back. And just in time for graduation AND the international competition in Amsterdam. And a few mash-ups, plus an original and former Bellas later, the group comes out on top and gets re-instated, just in time for Emily to take over the Bellas.
My favorite parts involved the underground competition, as well as the finale. Despite some of their annoyances, you just want the Bellas to win, even if just to show up Gail and John. Banks, who also directed, and Higgins to a great job as commentators again. Kendrick seemed to phone in her part as Becca, but then again the character was distracted getting her life in gear, so you can’t blame her. Keegan-Michael Key does a fantastic job as Becca’s crazy boss with a heart at the record label. And Steinfeld does a good job as the newest member of the Bellas. But, as I mentioned before Wilson steals the show as Fat Amy. Her solo of “We Belong” to win back her man Bumper (Adam DeVine) is great and awkward all at the same time, which is why I love her.
Stick around for a little bit of the credits to catch Bumper in his latest career move. And definitely try to see it in the theater, as it’s sure to brighten any rainy summer day!
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