‘Pitch’ isn’t perfect, but it’s still pretty catchy
The refrain is familiar in this sequel with a global theme
You have to love a movie about collegiate a cappella singers that references Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In a bawdy joke.
While just a jot less fun than its predecessor, Pitch
Perfect 2 is a worthy sequel in tone, even if the story is padded with a few too many montages.
Wise additions to the cast include Keegan-Michael Key, hilarious as a music producer working on a Christmas album with Snoop Dogg, and Hailee Steinfeld as a sweetly earnest new member of the Bellas singing group.
Anna Kendrick is back as sassy Beca, the Bellas’ musical arranger. She also has an internship with the producer and seems to be the only one of the Bella singers thinking about life after graduation.
Rebel Wilson as the selfdescribed Fat Amy nearly steals the movie with her hilarious version of Pat Benatar’s We Belong while making her way — despite a variety of obstacles — to her would-be boyfriend Bumper (Adam DeVine).
The film opens with the national champion Bellas performing at Lincoln Center in New York for President Obama. The camera cuts seamlessly to shots of the president and first lady as appreciative audience members.
The girls are singing in typically spirited fashion, and all seems harmonious. Then Wilson emerges overhead, dangling in an acrobatic act. Within minutes of appearing onstage, she splits her Spandex. Private parts are revealed for all to see.
Cut to the hilarious pairing of a cappella overseers Elizabeth Banks (who also directed and produced the film) and John Michael Higgins, each reprising their roles as snarky commenta- tors. Awash in nasty asides, they deem the college singers a national disgrace.
Higgins’ character is a clueless male chauvinist who spouts lines such as “This is what happens when you send girls to college.”
A gifted comedian, Banks handles the humorous scenes particularly deftly.
With one wardrobe malfunction, the Bellas are laughingstocks, reviled on social media and recipients of hate letters (that’s where Sotomayor comes in). They’re banned from performing nationally.
But nothing in the official wording of their punishment says they can’t perform overseas. Conveniently, the international competition is in Copenhagen.
Before they get to Denmark, they meet their stiffest competition, Germany’s super-slick, techno-fueled and arrogant Das Sound Machine, whom Amy dubs “Deutschbags.”
The plot is thin — the girls go off to a camp for team-building exercises led by the uptight former Bella leader Aubrey (Anna Camp). High jinks ensue. Beca is in awe of the DSM leader, Kommissar (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen), and when faced with the woman’s insults Beca can only comment on her beauty and soft skin.
But the story is beside the point. Music is the focus. Unfortunately, there are fewer memorable musical numbers in this sequel.
A funny segment in which a wealthy a cappella enthusiast (David Cross) invites the Bellas, DSM and other college singers to a private party results in a contest of musical genres and riffing skills. This might be the musical highlight.
An amusing running gag involves new troupe member Flo (Chrissie Fit), a Central American immigrant student. When the girls lament their litany of minor hardships, she pipes up with shocking references to her impoverished and imperiled childhood.
“When I was 9 years old my brother tried to sell me for a chicken,” she announces.
More of an ensemble than the first go-round, PP2 is slick and sassy and easy on the ears.