Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

Elizabeth Banks moves from her position in front of the camera in Pitch Perfect (2012) to an additional responsibility that she is not too unfamiliar with per se.  She gets behind the camera. Banks’ acting skills have been impressive albeit over the top (including Pitch Perfect) and her direction seems to be headed the same way.  There are high points (literally) in PP2 but overall lands up barely meeting expectations.

I really liked PP (2012) and I had made it a point to watch it before I saw PP2.  I have always been extremely fascinated with various genres of music and Acapella was just that refreshing change that needed to be made into a movie.  It was creative, it was different, it was funny in most parts and definitely qualified as entertaining.  It was, however, borderline slapstick and that’s the part that PP2 gets a bit wrong.

PP2 takes the slapstick further instead of keeping it within the limits that proved entertaining in the first part.  PP2 instead starts with what many would call a blooper but I just thought it was pushing too hard to pander to a certain segment of the audience that has a different version of humour than I do.

PP2 begins with the Barden Bellas performing for POTUS on his birthday.  Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) – the adventurous one that she is – decides that she is good enough to be part of Cirque de Soleil.  Of course the results are nothing short of a disaster.  Literally a ripper as they would say where Rebel Wilson comes from. At the end of it all, inexplicably, the Bellas are banned from campus Acapella.

But, inexplicably again, they are allowed to participate in the World Acapella Championships by virtue of being defending champions of the ICCA.  Of course they have to now go on a fresh recruitment spree because some of the Bellas have graduated.  And a whole new bunch comes in – each with their own eccentricities – and that makes it a bit more fun.

Not much of a story very honestly but some more than decent Acapella.  And if you liked PP (2012) then you should be able to stand PP2 despite the less than impressive dialogue and the more than required slapstick.  There are fun moments and highs that make it worthwhile to wait through the 2 hours.  6 on 10 for a movie that has apparently raked in more than its predecessor and is all set for a 3^rd part.

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4034440729/