Sequels are never better than the
originals, right? Well Pitch Perfect 2 certainly
gives its predecessor a run for its money.
Following on from where Pitch Perfect left us- with the Barden
Bellas reigning victorious in the niche world of a capella groups, the girls
have reached their final year of college at Barden (that’s university to us
Brits).
If you haven’t seen Pitch Perfect- think Glee but almost solely focused on the
singing and competitiveness between the groups.
The flick, which was released
through Universal Pictures in the UK on 15 May, opens on a dilemma, as Fat Amy,
played by the brilliant Rebel Wilson, shows off more than she bargained for
during the Bellas’ performance for President Obama. I might add, this scene is
cleverly put together with clips from one of Obama’s public appearances
entwined with the Bella’s performance.
With heaps of joyful musical
mash-ups, and decent performances from standout actresses such as Anna Kendrick (Beca Mitchell), and
Brittany Snow (Chloe Beale), Pitch
Perfect 2 is bursting with sass and substance.
Charismatic director Elizabeth Banks, who also directed the original and stars as Gail- a slightly dim-witted but still giggle-worthy a capella judge, has done an amicable job of overseeing this movie- it’s a predictable continuation that doesn’t interfere with its predecessor but carries a strong story of friendship and loyalty with lackluster romantic subplots in tow.
Bringing back all the best elements from the first film, while holding up a new plot and allowing for different aspects of the characters to be showcased, Pitch Perfect 2 is a female-fronted comedy with heart. And it’s raucous fun. What it’s lacking is the unique voice of the original, which makes it somewhat flat in comparison.
3/5
Watch the trailer here:
