Pitch Perfect is a movie that shouldn't have worked. Released in 2012, it featured a cast of mostly unknowns in a story about a bunch of college kids who formed an a cappella singing group and some unlikely friendships. What brought the whole thing together though was the sheer chemistry of the cast and a star performance from the marvellous Anna Kendrick, as well as a script that pulled off some genuine laughs and carried enough emotion to make you care about Beca and her friends.
Pitch Perfect 2 picks up where we left off, with the Bellas as reigning national champs and enjoying the fruits of their success. However, an invitation to perform for the president goes horribly awry, and a Fat Amy wardrobe malfunction causes enough of a scandal to see the group banned from competing in the country again. The solution? Rally the troops for a shot at the world championship.
Pitch Perfect 2 picks up where we left off, with the Bellas as reigning national champs and enjoying the fruits of their success. However, an invitation to perform for the president goes horribly awry, and a Fat Amy wardrobe malfunction causes enough of a scandal to see the group banned from competing in the country again. The solution? Rally the troops for a shot at the world championship.
One of the difficulties that faced this movie was figuring out how to take something that was largely a success because of what a surprise it was and deliver a film that wasn't just a cash-in. Elizabeth Banks, who was fantastic in her cameos in the original, this time steps behind the lens to direct and she does a great job for the most part. Beca and her friends have moved on from their college lifestyle and have to contend with balancing friendships and jobs and all of the struggles of modern life as they learn to grow up. The script gives all of the characters more mature themes to contend with but never loses sight of what made the original such a breakout hit and that's the easy chemistry the group all share. When the Bellas are all together delivering another punchy tune it's almost impossible not to get caught up in the fun of it all.
The weak link in the group it has to be said is Fat Amy. While it's amusing to see Rebel Wilson give so much commitment to the role, the movie indulges her a little too much and at times her strange brand of humour is overbearing and tiring. Pitch Perfect actually has such a wide array of characters one of the chief problems is getting everyone enough screen time to have an impact on the story. The international aspect to the plot leads to some great set-ups but some of the new characters don't get to do much more than deliver their performance and then exit stage left.
The star of the movie is once again Kendrick who's sheer likeability wins you over. Another vocally fantastic performance and her star quality is enough to mean we want to see Beca succeed, both on and off the stage. Fans of the original will see Pitch Perfect 2 as a natural progression for the characters and the story, in particular Beca's, and anyone who's found the transition into adulthood difficult will be able to identify with her.
Pitch Perfect 2 is flawed yet brilliant fun. Anyone who enjoyed the first movie will revel in this follow-up and find enough laughs and riffs on chart-topping hits to justify their night at the cinema. Like the a cappella numbers themselves, the movie is incredibly infectious and entertaining but unlikely to leave a lasting impression. Where they go from here is anyone's guess but at least all involved have proved that Pitch Perfect wasn't a one hit wonder.
