Film Review - Pitch Perfect 2

Second film of the week. But not the last. 

I loved Pitch Perfect. I even reviewed it on imdb at the time. Here is a link to that review but not sure if it will work properly if you aren't signed in as me. 

The follow-up was never going to be as good. I can list on one hand the film sequels that are even competitive with their originals and none of them are musical comedy. I am also going to give the film itself a little leeway as I was sat next to two women who talked all the way through the film and it was all I could do not to 

I love Anna Kendrick. She is good in parts of this film, normally when she is being left to act more serious sections between the gags but inkeeping with her grown-up character seems disconnected from most of the slapstick and disapproving of some of the other jokes. The lead in this version seems to fall more on Rebel Wilson's 'Fat Amy'. I suspect that if this makes money that the next version is more likely to be a Fat Amy spin off with a possible Kendrick cameo than a pure sequel. Hailee Stanfield is surely in the movie for her name (or as a transition character for future films) rather than for her actual contribution.

And most of the rest of the characters you just don't see enough of to even take note.

How you cast Katey Sagal in your movie and then give her half of a short scene and a 5 second back of the stage cameo near the end of the movie really confuses me. 

John Michael Higgins I loved in the first movie, but in this one he is turned into a serious misogynist, and his lines are more cringeworthy than funny. Elizabeth Banks sitting next to him with a fake smile on and failing to counter his comments doesn't sit well either.

Das Sound Machine, are the real stand out performers this time round. Not only do their actual performances steal the screen every time but their off-stage performances are hilarious. Their smack talk is really well written but the delivery is exceptional. 

So I realise that I am not saying a lot of positive things about the movie. I did quite enjoy some parts of it. The hipster intern and his relationship with the producer were funny. Clay Matthews and the Green Bay Packers were a novel cameo (but that joke isn't going to travel outside the US apart from a few sports fans). The 'new' song is much too close to the tune for Titanium which is used heavily in the first film. 

Overall 7 out of 10.