Pitch Perfect 2 (May 2015)

Official Australian release date: 7/5/15. Viewed: 10/5/15.

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Actors: Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow

Genre: Comedy

Rating: M

‘Pitch Perfect 2’ (rare in the fact that it doesn’t have a sub-title!) is a decent sequel to the surprise 2012 hit comedy about a university a capella group. This film is obviously aimed at females and is going after a younger audience, introducing 18-year-old Emily (Steinfeld) into the mix now – probably to allow a third film in the series. However, these don’t make it a bad film – still plenty of enjoyable moments throughout.

There’s probably less of a focus on the singing this time round, because – let’s face it – a capella isn’t really that exciting and can get old pretty quick. Especially with some of the rival teams – “Das Sound Machine” – and some of the terrible song choices (depending on your point-of-view, obviously). This is usually a good thing, as it gives Amy (Wilson) a chance to drop more quick-witted remarks and have more awkwardness with Bumper (DeVine) and even Becca (Kendrick) has some funny moments with her new boss (Keegan-Michael Key). But the best bits are still between the commentators – Elizabeth Banks (also her first time directing) & John Michael Higgins – plenty of hilarious lines and inappropriate comments.  

It’s a little too long (almost two hours), has a few redundant scenes and is very predictable, but you’re going to get what you expect – lots of laughs, some young-adult-what-does-the-future-hold musing and plenty of extras in a Louisiana field pretending it’s a Danish festival! I wish the original song (‘Flashlight’) wasn’t by Jessie J, but there’s still some decent songs in it.

Overall: Up-tempo feel-good fun.

Gav's Rating: 3 stars.