Insert Pitch pun or Aca pun here. Pitch Perfect 2 brings back those lovable Barden Bellas. Pitchier. Perfect…ier. Though the movie shows some cracks in trying to one up the first, Pitch Perfect 2 in the ballpark of the original Pitch Perfect. Not bad company, as the first will go down as one of the best comedies of the decade.
The story picks up after Beca’s (Anna Kendrick) Bellas dominate the college landscape, but get banned from competition after a Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) incident at the White House. To get reinstated, Beca and Super Senior Chloe (Brittany Snow) convince commentators/judges John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks) to let them back in provided they win the World A Cappella Championships. There are lots of issues for the Bellas though: they only get to recruit one legacy Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), and Beca is also trying to launch her music career under a crazy boss (Keegan-Michael Key). Will these pressures keep the Bella’s from beating the unbeatable German team? I think we know the answer.
Pitch Perfect 2 tells jokes effortlessly. Kay Cannon’s screenplay oozes funny, and even if a joke falters, there are several seconds away to pick up the slack. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see a group of women in a movie not sniping over a man, but butting heads over personality differences or lifestyle choices, like any person. Like Tina Fey, Pitch Perfect 2 also grounds its absurdity with real emotion. Beca struggles starting a career. Fat Amy ponders strong feelings for a guy. Emily wants her mom (Katey Sagal) to be proud of her. These things have been felt by most people…and then we get to see them ride a sled down stairs or get caught in a net. Pitch Perfect 2 walks its tone and comedy like a seasoned Bella matches a pitch.
There are more cracks here though. Cannon can write a joke, but she struggles expanding on a story, especially with which parts to expand or not. Beca’s boyfriend Jesse (Skylar Astin), who was a key contributor in the first is basically the cheerleader here, eliminating all of his interest as a character. However, Bumper’s (Adam DeVine) role was expanded and jammed in for no good reason other than DeVine is funny. Cramming more in, the Green Bay Packers and Emily’s arc are also tossed in, you know, just because. Many of the character choices are for thematic consistency, like fear of commitment and responsibility; however, because of the sheer character quantity, Pitch Perfect 2 jumps around too often. This doesn’t matter for characters we know, but really hurts characters like Emily or her mom, who I sorta cared about, but mostly shrugged off.
Anna Kendrick is a joy as ever as Beca. She can joke with the best of them, but her Beca has an emotional complexity that propels the movie forward and connects with audience members. Rebel Wilson is in her zone here: great in small effect as part of an ensemble. Of the returning Bella’s, Brittany Snow is delightful as ever, with more interesting takes on Chloe, and Anna Camp is used effectively in a little screen time. John Michael Higgins and (DIRECTOR!) Elizabeth Banks continue their laugh riot banter, upping the harsh ante a little. For the new people, Hailee Steinfeld plays along well enough, though the movie uses here as a puppet more often than it should. Keegan-Michael Key and especially those cheesehead Packers steal the show when they show up, getting some of the biggest laughs.
Pitch Perfect 2 solidifies something we should already be seeing: WOMEN ARE FUNNY AS HELL. And since Bridesmaids, the best selling comedies have been creatively run by the ladies. Best turn into the skid gents, because Pitch Perfect 2 is another solid reason to root for this sea change, and laugh along during the sing along.