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Anna Kendrick’s presence is far less noticeable in Pitch Perfect 2 than in the original
B-Pitch Perfect 2 tries to honor the time-worn tradition for Hollywood sequels: take what the audience liked about the first movie and give them more of it. Unfortunately, that immediately runs into a problem. What made the original Pitch Perfect a viral home video hit was its fresh perspective (as exemplified by the deceptively simple and catchy “Cups” song), and that freshness is long gone from the sequel.
Instead, Pitch Perfect 2 follows a familiar storyline. The Barden Bellas’ a capella success in Pitch Perfect comes crashing down when they are suspended after Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) flashes the President during a command performance. To be reinstated, they must win the upcoming World Championships against the German champions, a mechanical but talented group called Das Sound Machine. Their task is more difficult because their most talented member, Becca (Anna Kendrick) is spending less time with the group and more time working as an intern for an eccentric record producer (Keegan-Michael Key).
The scenes with Kendrick and Key are the best non-musical moments in Pitch Perfect 2, because they are offbeat and different. Other than that, the sequel strains for humor with jokes that are borderline sexist and racist, especially the constant sexual slurs by event commentator John Michael Higgins. Many of the jokes are at the expense of Amy, who is turned into a sex-obsessed nincompoop. Apparently, screenwriter Kay Cannon thinks the mere idea of a large woman enjoying sex is hilarious. Fortunately, Pitch Perfect 2 never goes too long without a musical number. Elizabeth Banks, who co-stars as Higgins’ co-commentator, directs, and she avoids over editing the musical routines so the audience can appreciate the choreography. The sequel also wisely copies and actually improves on one of the best sequences in the original, the riff off, this time involving, of all people, the Green Bay Packers. The best musical sequence of all is the surprisingly rousing finale, “Flashlight,” the one original song in the film (and a surefire Oscar nominee). Despite a distressing number of missteps along the way, Pitch Perfect 2 finally goes back to what it does best and sends the audience home happy.
Continue reading on Pitch Perfect 2: Mini-Review
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