Pitch Perfect 2 (FILM REVIEW)
Pitch Perfect 2
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Headline:
The Bellas Are Back for Another Madcap, Acappella Misadventure
The Bellas are back and badder than
before! In case you’re unfamiliar with the sassy, all-girl singing group,
they’re students at Barden University, a fictional college located in Atlanta, Georgia.
In the original, the students overcame a number of frustrating setbacks on the slow
road to victory at the national acappella competition.
This semester, the motley crew led by
super senior Chloe (Brittany Snow) has its sights set on the world championships
in Copenhagen.
However, they get off to a horrible start, thanks to an embarrassing, onstage
wardrobe malfunction experienced by Fat Amy’(Rebel Wilson) while dangling at
the end of a rope during a command performance for President Obama and the First
Lady.
The
audience lets out a collective gasp when she splits her leotard down the
crotch, thereby completely exposing her private parts to the world. By the time
the dust finally settles on the ensuing reactions to “Muffgate” by the media,
the Barden Bellas find themselves temporarily
suspended from competition by the board of governors.
Not to worry, the storyline seizes on that pause in the musical
cause as a convenient excuse to develop the back stories of several group members.
Amy has an ardent admirer in Bumper (Adam DeVine), but will she ever let her
guard down long enough to share her sensitive side? Meanwhile, Beca (Anna
Kendrick) secretly takes an internship with a Grammy-winning record producer
(Keegan-Michael Key) with hopes of having him listen to the tunes she’s
composed.
There’s also drama surrounding an angry black lesbian (Ester
Dean), a freshman legacy admission Emily (Hailee Steinfeld)
with low self-esteem; and an undocumented alien (Chrissie Fit), afraid of being
deported. The pithy banter, here, frequently borders on the
politically-incorrect, but it somehow works, perhaps because it’s never too
mean-spirited.
As the assorted
controversies are gradually amicably resolved, specter of the big showdown with
the German defending world champs, The Sound Machine, looms ever larger on the
horizon. Curiously, though billed as a celebration of acappella renditions of
classic hits and show tunes, all the vocalists are actually accompanied by
musical instruments.
Will the Bellas win? What?
Are you in a rush? Just sit back and enjoy the irreverent ride. As one-man band
Bobby McFerrin would warble, “Don’t worry, be happy.” A road to redemption
paved with wisecracks and wonderful harmonies.
Very Good
(3 stars)
Rated PG-13
for profanity and sexual innuendo
Running time: 115 minutes
Distributor: Universal
Pictures
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