Director: Elizabeth Banks

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Elizabeth Banks, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine

Running Time: 118 minutes 

Release Date: 15th May, 2015

Following the first flick from Jason Moore back in 2010, comedic actress Elizabeth Banks helms PITCH PERFECT 2 and brings the Bella’s back to life. The new sequel sees our favourite acapella divas run into some serious trouble when Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) flashes more than a smile at President Obama himself, leading to harsh repercussions for the entire group. Facing no other option, the Barden Bella’s rebel against a recruitment freeze and enter a worldwide acapella competition that no American team has ever won; picking up some new friends and enemies along the way.  While the girls battle it out on stage, they must also come to terms with their looming graduation and what happens when the Bella’s are no more. 

The instantly brilliant thing about PITCH PERFECT 2 is that it captures the easy, fun spirit that the first movie so wonderfully encourages. Banks does a brilliant job in keeping within the same style and theme of the first movie, making for a smooth transition into the sequel with a new director in charge. PITCH PERFECT 2 doesn’t pretend to be anything  it’s not, there’s no ulterior motive, deeper meaning or hidden agenda within its musically-fuelled narrative and there’s something wholly enjoyable about that from the outset. 

Still, when one looks beyond the general feel of the movie, the narrative itself is repetitive and disappointing. With Kay Canon working again on Mickey Rapkin‘s superb characters, she makes the same mistakes that can be found within the first film. With an ensemble cast as large as Pitch Perfect 2‘s, it’s understandable that Canon would attempt to give each character their own strand of the narrative; one would go as far as expecting that. However, the weaving mini-stories that engulf each  character just aren’t strong enough to fully engage the audiences into truly caring about what happens beyond the main acapella narrative. Characters like Beca (Anna Kendrick) and newbie Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) get their own side stories including a recording studio and a luke-warm romance but they’re quite lackluster compared to the rest of the narrative.

However, the less than perfect narrative is smartly disguised by these amazing and wonderfully varied bevy of female characters. Anna Kendrick is always a pleasure to watch, with her character getting a little less edge and a lot more humour. Steinfeld steps in as Barden Bella ‘legacy’ and does a fine job with what she’s given to work with, matching the rest of the girls outstanding acting ability. All of the girls step up to reach the same potential as the rest of the cast, including Brittany Snow, Hana Mae Lee and Ester Dean. 

As predicted by many, Rebel Wilson‘s performance completely outshines anyone else’s. She is absolutely hilarious as Fat Amy and one can most definitely see the influence from Elizabeth Bank’s own comedic talents within Fat Amy’s character. Whether it’s physical comedy, one-liners or topnotch delivery; Wilson crushes it and single-handedly kicks the entire narrative up a notch. Her on-screen chemistry with returning Treblemaker Bumper (Adam DeVine) is wickedly funny; leading to the film’s best comedic scene, in the form of a side-splitting serenade. 

PITCH PERFECT 2 isn’t going to be changing the face of contemporary cinema anytime soon, but who cares? It’s laugh out loud funny, a little scandalous, a lot silly and full of brilliantly talented women! The mash-up’s are going to capture the hearts of acapella fans everywhere, with some great 90’s hip-hop, contemporary rock and even a Bella original. Despite the lackluster narrative and general predictability, audiences who loved the first flick are going to be more than impressed with Banks’ direction, who really does pump in the humour for this acca-movie. Are you ready to get pitch-slapped?

Verdict

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