'Pitch Perfect 2' A Review

Pitch Perfect 2 is a musical comedy the sequel to the 2012 original. The Barton Bella's are in their senior year of college and are three time national acapella champions. The movie opens at a presidential event where the Bella's are slated to sing. During their performance Fat Amy has a wardrobe malfunction and as a result the Bella's are disgraced and suspended with only once chance at redemption- the acapella international competition where no USA team has ever succeeded. With differing priorities and a wandering musical compass the Bella's must come together if they hope to win.

The plot is disconcertingly manufactured with numerous collegiate comedy cliches piled on each other in the first half hour to set the movie off to a lumbering start. Although still fun and energetic with wonderful music the sequel has none of the freshness of its predecessor. Many of the jokes are recycled, different variations of the same set ups from the original.Visually the movie is rich and striking, a significant cinematographic improvement. But the predictability and lack of character development make the movie feel as routine as a Rocky sequel. The plot is also blatantly structured to set up a a third movie with a new lead which is distracting.

Entertaining but relatively flat.

Rent It.