Pitch Perfect 2: Not so perfect anymore

The pitch ain’t perfect this time for the Barden Bellas in the sequel of American musical comedy, a capella hit film, Pitch Perfect 2.

It was quite a disappointment (for me) mainly because I was expecting a lot more than just the same old a capella singing practise, girl power bravados, comedic love and lust and a whole lot of mash-ups.

It opens with an eye-popping performance by the Barden Bellas, in front of America’s very own President and the First Lady - the Obamas. During this performance, no thank you to wardrobe malfunction, Fat Amy played by Rebel Wilson ‘exposed’ her ‘inner side’ whilst hanging upside down and plummeted the choir group into disgrace.

As a result, the Bellas got stripped off all regional competitions and the only way to uphold their legacy as the Barden Bellas would be by winning the world title.

Like the first movie, Pitch Perfect, the Bellas are faced with numerous challenges that tested their relationship and commitment as a group member.

However, the opening act is as good as it gets. Director, Elizabeth Banks who doubled as the extremely sarcastic commentator, did not manage to sustain the spontaneity of each and every character’s comedic persona until the end of the film.

What’s unbearable would be the overwhelming subplots or too many things going on in this film - almost each Bellas have got their own love life issues, and this movie is trying to fit it all in one movie.

For instance, Beca is still in pursuit for happiness, working her way up to having a good career, life post Barden Bella. Fat Amy has her very own and unique lust-love relationship with Bumper played by Adam Devine and many more.

Though all main characters are highly amplified in this movie, I feel that Anna Kendrick who played Beca, didn’t quite shine in this one. Most of her one-liners failed to excite the audience. And as always, when the same jokes got said over and over again, especially for comedy sequel, it got lame and most jokes seemed to fade away from the scale of funniness and goes right into being insensitive.

There were a lot of jokes on women that were quite bearable, and some are just too bleak like the ones about refugees dying at sea.

There’s (really) nothing new about Pitch Perfect 2, except for the new contender from Germany called Das Sound machine that made the Bellas to ponder on their future and career in music. As well as the newbie they recruited, played by Hailee Steinfeld, who helped Beca to find the true meaning to music producing.

Overall, I was entertained by the abundance and diverse musical presentation by the Bellas, there was also a new original song, however, the comedy scale for this one is just mundane with the lack of fresh humour.

Directed by: Elizabeth Banks

Written by: Kay Cannon (screenplay), Mickey Rapkin (novel)

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Banks

Release date: 14 May