Aca-Sequel
Pitch Perfect 2
Three years ago, Universal
Pictures took a chance on a small comedy based on a non-fiction book by
author Mickey Rapkin. The film was based on a group of young women in college
that bonded together because of music. Although it was an a cappella group, the
women stole the hearts of millions of fans across the world. Pitch Perfect became one of the best
movies of 2012 and garnered enough of a fan base to warrant a sequel. With much
of the original cast back, this summer Universal has made good on their promise
for Pitch Perfect 2.
It is three years later and the Barden Bellas are still going strong with their success. That is
until a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ at President Obama’s birthday celebration at the
Kennedy Center throws the Bellas into a downward spiral. Even after apologizing
profusely, the Bellas are threatened to be disbanded and kicked out of their
university. That is until Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick Into the Woods), the Bellas ‘leader’, makes a deal with the
university Dean. The deal states that if the Bellas can band together and win
Worlds (an international a cappella competition), then the Bellas would be
reinstated into the university and the Aca-world. They only have one problem…the
German national team that has never lost.
Lightning as struck again for the Barden Bellas and
Universal Studios. This movie fits very well with the first. Pitch Perfect 2 achieves what all
sequels set out to do, which is be as relevant or as good as the original. Is
this movie better than its predecessor? No. However, it does capture 95% of the
aca-magic.
Like the first film, the film relied heavy on the cast
coming together as one. The ladies come into this movie and seem very flawless getting
back in the swing of things. Each character has their little personality ticks
that separate them from one another and like the first film they all do
wonderful. Rebel Wilson (Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb)
stands out the most due to her comedic timing and being blessed with most of
the best lines. I say most of the best lines because Chrissie Fit (Teen Beach
Movie), who plays Flo, has some
hilarious lines that just seem to spout out of her mouth that are so random and
weird.
Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) takes a shot at her
first feature directing effort with Pitch
2. Banks succeeds keeping the tone and the energy of the first film. Banks,
a magnificent comedian herself, is able to add just a little more to the humor
of the film. I also commend her not making the film feel too much like a rehash
of the original by putting a little of her own personality into the movie.
Here is where my big ‘however’ comes for this film. As good
as the movie was, there were a major thing I needed to nitpick with. First is
the whole point of the movie seems to be showcased, forgotten, and then remembered
in the last 20 minutes of the movie. The whole middle of the movie dealt with
all of the girls moving on from the Bellas and from college when they all
graduate. This plot was the main focus for most of the movie and it seemed that
the Worlds plot was forgotten until it was needed again. I liked the ‘moving on’
plot, but they needed to mix it a little better with the whole essence of the
movie, which of course is the outstanding soundtrack.
Pitch Perfect 2 is
a perfect complement to the original movie and will be embraced by the millions
of fans across the world. Just don’t expect it to be better, because let’s face
it…nothing is better than the original.
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