Third Pitch far from perfect Pitch Perfect 3 (M)
93 mins ★★ 1⁄2
The first Pitch Perfect movie in 2012 was a delight for several reasons. With its multi-ethnic ensemble cast, it put women front and centre, latching on to the bandwagon then being driven by Bridesmaids which demonstrated how ladies, too, could be sassy, sexy and a bit filthy.
It gave Australian comedienne Rebel Wilson her breakout Hollywood role and surprised many of us with the musical talents of actress Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air). And it capitalised on the success of TV’s Glee by delivering song after song of brilliantly arranged a capella
Following a pretty average sequel in 2015 (which mostly exploited Wilson’s size, self-deprecation and willingness to push comedic boundaries), the Barden Bellas are back for a third stab at stardom, here reuniting from their humdrum lives to entertain the troops at American military bases in Europe.
It seems a strange time in filmmaking history to evoke such an oldfashioned premise(although some of the cutest costumes knowingly imitate 1940s pin-ups), but as the movie develops you realise that almost all of the characters’ motivations in fact revolve around a man, whether it’s gaining the attention of an absent father, a toothy, generic-looking soldier, or a tubby DJ. Pitch Perfect 3 is not exactly the epitome of 21stcentury, post-Weinstein, feminist cinema.
To up its game, PP3 wedges in a fun subplot which revolves around an Aussie-accented John Lithgow (a shining highlight) and a fantastic action sequence which combines the best of Britney Spears with perfect speed-ramped cinematography.
But these innovations are few and far between. Nowadays, the sheen having long since tarnished, Pitch Perfect 3 is strongest for its musical numbers and costumes – there is ear candy and eye candy galore.
One senses that this may be the end of the road for the Bellas, and for films about instrument-free singing. But there are talents in this cast that need to be fostered, so here’s hoping a fresh opportunity presents itself soon.
– Sarah Watt