Beca (Anna Kendrick), Chloe (Brittany Snow), Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and the rest of the Barden Bellas are back and they've all got their tails tailless between their legs after disgracing the Aca-Community. Their three-year domination of the Aca-World is shattered when their "honorary-Yank," Fat Amy, decides to go commando for the nation's fearless leader. Loosing their world tour to their German contemporaries, Das Sound Machine, the Bellas have to do what - and according to Stacie (Alexis Knapp) who - ever it takes to get back on top! Can the Bellas reclaim their title and take The World Championships too?
The Story
If Pitch Perfect took us through Beca's journey of finding a way to love Collage life (and a group of girls who like to sing to - literally - the sound of their own voices) instead of "already" pursuing her dream as a music producer, Pitch Perfect 2 takes us through her journey of actually doing what she set out to do - while hiding it from the rest of the Bellas, well Chloe mostly.
Ok, it's not really that simple, but it might as well have been. Don't get me wrong it was a pretty good movie, with all the bells and whistles and great singing and choreography, but the script was literally full of punchlines! Don't hate-on-me too soon - I LOVED the one-liners. I was literally laughing so loud - me and the rest of the VMax lovers at Event Cinemas - every two minutes. All I'm saying is, it's your typical dance-slash-singing-movie where the girl has a dream and she's afraid to let others down if she actually pursues it. Then there's a typical fight about it and then, BOOM - someone's caught in a bear trap. Oh, and did I mention the newbie who sticks out really awkwardly on the sidelines trying to desperately fit-in and have her voice heard? No? Well, I guess there's your additional teen-scene cherry-on-top-bonus.
But like I said, you'll be walking out wiping your eyes and clutching your stomachs by the time the credits are rolling - even then, Adam DeVine is waiting to give you one last laugh-out-loud moment!
The Cast
Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson were brilliant in sharing the the limelight with their individual leadership pockets. Kendrick was the firm and distant ruler who's left the main decision to a stress-head-anxious-about-the-future Snow and laid-back-in-denial Wilson. As Snow reprises her Bellas-for-the-win role and Wilson takes on a more personal journey, the two take hold of their individual screen times perfectly as Kendrick slips off to be her brilliant talented self.
Newbie, Hailee Steinfeld, is placed into the mould...but is like a brick that doesn't fit. No matter how hard you try, she can never sit perfectly damn it! In regards to having perfect pitch, this new addition was more annoying as the film tried to drive Jessie J's, Flashlight, into our memory banks permanently. I'm sorry, but imma have to go all Regina on this and say, "Stop trying to make 'Flashlight' happen. It's not-gonna-happen." Although I'm sure that was on purpose, I had to cringe every time she tried to do her own thing so that she could fit-in. It was like she was trying to conform, but be individualistic all at once; she wasn't even unsure of herself, it was like her character didn't know whether she was mini-Beca or a mini-Chloe - she wasn't even a mini-both. She was literally as messy as my attempt to describe how messy was on screen.
Anna Camp's return was just as entertaining has her first chuck-up solo in the first film. Her go-getter attitude was as brilliant as her Man-UP-reality-check for her former sisters. She was a delicate balance of a slap in the face and a sisterly hug.
Overall, you'll have a great night out with your friends and leave the cinemas a few kilos lighter from all the laughing. This is one for the girls and the boys - there's no denying it; it's one everyone will enjoy. If not for the incredible singing and choreography, then you'll be howling for the tennis-like banter of punchy one-liners that will leave you cackling for days.
Star Rating: ★★★
Next on sL: Paper Towns