I had watched the first movie twice last year (once on cable and once on dvd) and liked it a lot, much more than I expected to. The sequel, simply titled Pitch Perfect 2 came out this year and is once again directed & co-produced by Elizabeth Banks and stars Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, and Shelley Regner as The Bellas. Banks, Skylar Astin, Adam Devine and Anna Camp return in their previous roles while Katey Sagal has a supporting role as a former Bella and Snoop Dog has a cameo.
It’s been 4 years since the events of the first film and the Bellas have won the nationals 3 years in a row. During a performance at President Obama’s birthday gala, disaster strikes when Fat Amy’s airlifting solo goes awry with her bottoms ripping and both her butt & front being displayed for all to see and they are suspended from performing in any a cappella showcase. Beca makes a deal to allow the Bellas be reinstated if they win the Worlds a cappella tournament. While the girls start practising for the worlds, Becca meanwhile has been secretly also working as an intern in a real studio impresses her boss with her mashup skills for Snoop Dogg’s Christmas album and is given a chance to become a producer. Only her boyfriend Jesse knows but Fat Amy soon finds out and advises Beca to tell the other Bellas.
The Bellas welcome freshman Emily Junk, who auditions for and impresses the ladies, to the delight of her mom who was a former Bella in the 80s. That night, the Bellas have a party with the Treblemakers and several other a capella students, where Benji awkwardly develops a crush towards Emily. The Bellas later attend a car show where they were initially due to perform, to meet their replacements, German powerhouse “Das Sound Machine” (DSM) – led by intimidating duo Pieter Krämer and Kommissar. They then attend an exclusive riff off, but lose to DSM in the final round when Emily flubs an attempt to sing her own song. The Bellas have another disaster when at another event things go wrong mid performance when Cynthia-Rose has her hair set ablaze by pyro. In response Chloe takes all the Bellas on a retreat, which is run by former leader of the Bellas Aubrey Posen, saying that they need to regain their lost harmony. While there Becca admits that she has been working as an intern because she is worried about her future after graduation. Each Bella talks about their dreams and hopes and they sing and talk about how much being a Bella has meant to them.
The senior Bellas graduate and all head off to Copenhagen for the Worlds a capella tournament, with Jesse and Benji to cheer them on. The Bellas perform along with Emily’s original song with the help of several former Bellas, including Aubrey and Emily’s mother, winning them the competition. Afterwards, Emily is given a proper initiation by the senior Bellas.
Funny and cool like the first one, though I still can’t stand most of the songs and style of singing. It’s good that the movie is funny plus I love Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow. Good fun movie for the weekend. 8 outta 10!