While Not Perfect Harmony, ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Delivers the Laughs

GameStop, Inc.

pp-2-1

As someone with an active contempt for contemporary pop music, it’s safe to say that I wasn’t the target audience for 2012’s Pitch Perfect. But the plucky little comedy about an all-girl team of a Capella singers proved to be a pleasant surprise, and recent re-watch proved that the film’s success wasn’t a product of low expectations. Now the Barden Bellas are back in Pitch Perfect 2, a film that is at once both funnier and messier than its predecessor.

After opening with an a Capella version of the Universal Pictures theme, the film hits the ground running. The commentators from the first film, Gail (Elizabeth Banks) and John (John Michael Higgins), are announcing the latest performance of the Barden Bellas, who have won 3 consecutive collegiate a Capella championships, for President Obama and the First Lady. Just as the flashy spectacle seems to be reaching its apex, Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) has a wardrobe malfunction, embarrassing the Bellas as well as the world of competitive a Capella. Though they’re banned from collegiate competition, the Bellas are free to compete in the international championships, though that may be just a pipe dream as the American team has never been victorious. Meanwhile, Beca (Anna Kendrick) is making headway in realizing her dream in becoming a music producer, landing an internship for a successful music producer played by Keegan-Michael Key. Beca fears that this new gig may jeopardize her relationship with Chloe (Brittany Snow), who eats, lives, and breathes life in the Bellas. After taking on a newcomer Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), the Bellas practice to take on the well-oiled, German engineered a Capella group Das Sound Machine. The Barden Bellas must overcome their own fears and difference in order to find perfect harmony and defeat Das Sound Machine at the international championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

From its opening frames up until the finale, Pitch Perfect 2 swiftly moves from gag to gag, one-liner to one-liner that it makes it easy to overlook the film’s many deficiencies. For one, the film is surprisingly lacking in story and conflict – and any conflict is minor and quickly resolved. In a certain sense, Pitch Perfect 2 is somewhat similar to Avengers: Age of Ultron in that it’s just overflowing with characters, some of which are underserved. For example, Beca’s boyfriend Jesse (Skylar Astin) returns but he doesn’t actually serve any narrative purpose and is all but erased from the film for much of its running time. Oddly, there are two other romantic entanglements that are given more attention than that of its lead character.

Making her directorial debut, Elizabeth Banks uses her comedic knowledge to make the film much looser and laugh out loud funnier than the first film. But that comes at a price as the film isn’t particularly focused, as happens with a number of comedies that rely so heavily on improv. For the most part, Banks relies on very conventional filmmaking technique. The musical sequences seems to be edited together from coverage, not meticulously planned – this ain’t Bob Fosse choreography. And Banks also employs a number of montages to diminishing effect; seriously, there’s like 5 montages in this film. However, for all the technical shortcomings, Banks and screenwriter Kay Cannon keep the jokes flying in a frenzy that these problems don’t really become apparent until after the credits have rolled.

Returning from the first film is Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Anna Camp, Adam DeVine, Kelley Jakle, Ben Platt, and more, though Lee, Dean, Platt, and DeVine are probably given the most focus on the screen. Also aiding Banks in masking the film’s shortcomings is the film’s expansive and impressive cast of comedic talent including David Cross, Reggie Watts, Jason Jones, John Hodgman, Joe Lo Truglio, and a handful of members of the Green Bay Packers. Of the whole robust roster of comedic talent, Rebel Wilson continues to steal the spotlight, proving that she’s a comedic force to be reckoned with. In their few brief scenes, Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins sneak in some of the funniest and most offensive one-liners in the film, some of which might inspire some insipid thinkpieces.

But for all its flaws, Pitch Perfect 2 keeps you laughing from start to finish. Based on her directorial debut, Elizabeth Banks shows that create cinematic comedy along with the best. Yet Banks’ directorial chops aren’t up for the complex task of staging big, sweeping musical numbers, but I can’t think of any first time director that would be able to pull off such a difficult task. More importantly, Banks wasn’t crafting a straightforward musical, she was crafting a comedy with musical elements. The comedy of Pitch Perfect 2 render the film’s flaws an afterthought that won’t arrive until well after you’ve had time to catch your breath.

Anytime Costumes

One Response

  1. JB Smooter May 29, 2015 Reply

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
‘Wednesday’ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

‘Wednesday‘ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, from Warner...

Toy Lei Talks About Playing Auntie Victoria in ‘The Brothers Sun’ – Interview Rewind

Asian-American actress Toy Lei stars as Auntie Victoria in the new...

Marcus Massey Talks ‘Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2’ – Interview

Marcus Massey Shares his Wisdom as Owl in ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and...

Event News Event Reviews
‘MJ the Musical’ Chronicles the Life of the ‘King of Pop’ Running at Segerstrom – Review

‘MJ the Musical‘ is the Ultimate Stage Adaptation, Chronicling the life...

Aiden Sinclair and Michael Rangel Talks ’57 Ghosts’ Aboard the Queen Mary Séance

Aiden Sinclair and Apparitionist, Michael Rangel Discuss their new Theatrical Séance...

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open ‘Slashers Axe Throwing’ – Interview

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open Orange County’s first ever horror themed...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Olympic Runner Colleen Quigley ‘On The Road to Paris’

Team USA Olympic Runner, Colleen Quigley is On The Road to...

Paralympian Swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger On The Road to Paris

Team USA Paralympian Swimmer, Ahalya Lettenberger is On The Road to...

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre – Interview

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre on Sunday,...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse: Escalation

When you said "Destroy" Kurt grabbed his mini-gun an AK-47 and...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse, the continuing saga!

If cautious means being careful when I break a foot off...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse pt 253;sectionG

Well I think they're tacky as hell!

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs & Sketches’ – Interview

Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs &...

Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her Career in the Arts

First Generation Assyrian-Chaldean, Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her...

Louden Swain Headlining Los Angeles Show at The Echo

Press Release – Louden Swain are headlining Los Angeles show at...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Chris Clews Is ‘Raised on the 80s’ and Shares Those Life Lessons

Chris Clews was ‘Raised on the 80s‘ and Shares Those Life...

Roye Okupe Brings Authentic African Representation to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

Nigerian-American, Roye Okupe brings authentic African representation to HBO Max and...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand Demo

The new ‘Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand‘ is ready to ship...

Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the ‘Good Flour’

Canadian Super Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the...

Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

The Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is now available to help...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...