Pitch Perfect 2 review

  • Breaking
  • 04/05/2015

Ask a Pitch Perfect fan how many times they've watched the first movie and they may have lost count.

It's that kind of movie.

A perfectly respectable theatrical release was followed by a rapid and rabid fan embrace via DVD and VOD. Now the crew is back; for the fans, and for the box office receipts, with Pitch Perfect 2.

This time producer/star Elizabeth Banks takes on directing duties as well, confessing she also worked alongside writer Kay Cannon on the script.

She then talked her stars into returning for another outing, now well-established as the champion a cappella sirens, the Barden Bellas. 

Now it's their final year of college, they have the world champs in their sights, nationwide tours to embark on, and student life is rosy. Then one wee wardrobe malfunction from Fat Amy, unfortunately in front of the president and his wife, and it all turns to custard.

Banned from performing Stateside, their only hope for redemption is to win the a cappella World Championships in Copenhagen.

No American team has ever won, and for good reason. Germany's insanely good a cappella troupe Das Sound Machine's unwavering global domination is both understandable and deeply intimidating.

Can our beleaguered Bellas come back from the brink of break-up & despair and find their sound once again?

Sequels are a tough business, but big business. What Pitch Perfect 2 lacks in meat on its bones, it makes up for with big belly laughs and toe-tapping performances, all of which charmed me into forgiving it the odd cheesy moment.

Only time will tell whether there will be another 'Cups' success on the soundtrack, but the music and the choreography is top notch and enormous fun. 

The escalating showdowns between the Barden Bellas and Das Sound Machine are mined for maximum musical entertainment and sly humour, eventually delivering a surprisingly rousing finale.

I loved the first Pitch Perfect and that joy on screen makes the dangerous leap across to the sequel with ease. Shinier, glitzier and a little once-over-lightly, this is still a tonne of fun, and an easy four stars.

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     Pitch Perfect 2
:: Director: Elizabeth Banks
:: Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Elizabeth Banks, Hailee Steinfeld, Katey Sagal, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Anna Camp
:: Rating: M - Sexual references
:: Running Time: 115 minutes
:: Release Date: May 7, 2015

source: newshub archive