Pitch Perfect 2

With the first Pitch Perfect hitting the top of the box office charts to the tune of over a hundred million dollars, and the same on the home entertainment market, Pitch Perfect 2 was an inevitable second album. But can the Barden Bellas kick aca or does Pitch Perfect 2 prove that they are one hit wonders?

While the Bellas performing for President Obama Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) has a wardrobe malfunction to rival Janet Jackson. Told they will never perform again Chloe (Brittany Snow) finds a loophole in the rules that mean they have to perform at the Worlds A Cappella Tournament. If they fail the Bellas will be no more. But with graduation looming Bella leader Beca (Anna Kendrick) is secretly interning at a record studio and is desperate to make a name for herself outside of the aca world. Meanwhile Bella Legacy Emily (Haillee Steinfeld) is desperate to follow in her mother’s footsteps and keep the Bellas playing forever.

The term “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” is applicable here. Pitch Perfect 2 attempts very little different from the first film. But then neither did Rocky II, III, IV, you get the point. So the Bellas start in a bad place, have a few life issues along the way, meet their foes, in the shape of intimidating German group Das Sound Machine, and eventually get their grove back in order to be competitive. Formulaic? Sure, but it doesn’t stop it being a lot of fun.

Because you don’t tune in to Pitch Perfect 2 unless you enjoyed the first one and if you enjoyed the first one there’s little here to suggest you won’t find your toes tapping and face smiling this time around. Elizabeth Banks, taking over directing duties having cameo-ed and produced the first film, keeps the jokes coming thick and fast while always ensuring the tunes are catchy and leave you a little impressed that a cappella is not just a thing but a thing that is strangely infectious.

Rebel Wilson continues to be an entertaining if slightly obnoxious screen presence while the rest of the gang all get nice little moments to shine. Banks and her aca co-commentator John Michael Higgins are both comic highlights with their un-PC , Greek Chorus like chiming in. But as with the last film the Pitch Perfect platinum record goes to Anna Kendrick. Her dry delivery is always smiling inducing and her sexual attraction to the female lead singer of Das Sound Machine is a constant source of comedy. It helps that she can really sing and carries the film with a similar level of cynicism that is impossible to ignore when dealing with all things a cappella.

More of the same but Pitch Perfect 2 does enough to keep you grinning and singing all the way to Pitch Perfect 3.