I couldn't remember what my initial review was for the first PITCH PERFECT, so I did a quick search and discovered that somehow (probably because I didn't see the film until after its release) I never actually reviewed the original. If nearly three years of hard living hasn't destroyed my recall, I seem to remember reacting favorably to the story of Beca (Anna Kendrick) and her college pals, singing a cappella mash-ups as the Bellas and winning a national championship. The film did well in theaters and really well on home video, and then PITCH PERFECT became a "thing," which isn't the fault of the film, but sometimes when people try to make another version of that "thing," it turns out more like a pale imitation.
PITCH PERFECT 2 starts strong, with a very clever command performance by the now-three-time national champion Bellas at Lincoln Center for President Obama and the First Lady. Back are all of the members who weren't seniors in the first film, including Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), who attempts a silk scarf routine that results in her tights splitting, exposing her front and back nether regions to the First Family and disqualifying the team from any official U.S. competitions. However, it just so happens the tri-annual world finals are happening soon in Europe, and the Bellas are automatically invited to that. The team makes a deal with the a cappella governing body (made up of first-film commentators John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks, who also takes a turn as the film's director this time around) that if they win, they will be allowed back into competition.
Despite the return of screenwriter Kay Cannon, the tone of PITCH PERFECT 2 feel similar to the first film but perhaps a little meaner. With most of the girls playing seniors in this installment, there's more at stake for many of them and more of an incentive to win the international title. But many of the obstacles thrown in front of the young ladies seem hopelessly artificial, and the subplots are loaded with drama that seems forced. For example, Beca gets an internship at a recording studio run by a hits producer played by Keegan-Michael Key, who is quite funny. (But can we all just agree that Snoop Dogg cameos feel about as timely as Nixon jokes?) But Beca is afraid her friends will freak if they find out that she's concentrating on a career in her chosen field rather than preparing the music for their title shot. Her avoidance feels more like a plot device than an actual personality trait.
Thrown into the mix for the first time in this sequel is freshman Emily (Hailee Steinfeld from TRUE GRIT and ENDER’S GAME). Although the Bellas are forbidden from auditioning any new members, Emily is a legacy (her mother, played by Katey Sagal, was a Bella many moons ago) and must be allowed in automatically. But she's a bundle of nervous energy that also threatens to sideline the group. Emily also has ambitions of writing and performing original music, which is the kiss of death in this profession of covers and mash-ups.
The group's other key member is Gail (Brittany Snow), who is largely made uninteresting in PITCH PERFECT 2. We know she wants to win really bad, but beyond that I couldn't tell you a single thing that resembles growth about this character. A parade of familiar faces manage to make their way back into the film. Even long-graduated Aubrey (Anna Camp) manages to find a clever way to re-enter the Bellas' lives one more time. Boyfriends are had and lost and gotten back. Cameos abound, with my personal favorites being another vocal group, the Tone Hangers, comprised of John Hodgman, Jason Jones, Joe Lo Truglio and Reggie Watts, who compete against the Bellas at a secret a cappella showdown sponsored by David Cross' demented host. It's at this event that we first see the talents of the German champions Das Sound Machine, led by the genetically perfect Birgitte Hjort and Flula Borg.
I guess the issues I have with PITCH PERFECT 2 have mostly to do with everything being stretched too far. There are too many stories, characters (new and old), and subplots to allow us to care about any of it. The zingers still zing, and the characters who were funny before largely hold onto their comic timing (I still find myself weirdly excited by Hana Mae Lee's bizarre, soft-spoken Lilly). But overall, this feels like a giant one-joke idea that is being grabbed at the corners and stretched beyond its natural borders.
Still, most things with Kendrick in them are better than the ones without, and she continues to impress me not just with her comic ability but her intuition about what style of comedy works best in each film she's in. She is no one-note comic actor, and she proves that with each new film. PITCH PERFECT 2 is a close call for me, but I don't think it quite made me laugh or tap my toes enough to recommend. I realize that straying too far from the formula of the first film would have been sacrilege, but give us something to make it less predictable at least.
