100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 71: Pitch Perfect 2

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Banks, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Katey Sagal, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine, Kelley Jakle, Ben Platt, C.J. Perry, Ester Dean, John Michael Higgins, Shelley Regner, Keegan-Michael Key

Description: After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform.

Review: “Pitch Perfect” was Jason Moore’s directorial debut in 2012. It was a huge success and actress Anna Kendrick scored a hit with her song “Cups”. And when a movie is successful, a sequel will happen.

“Pitch Perfect 2” follows again the a capella group the Bellas. After a humiliating performance, the Bellas enter an international a capella competition. And that’s a whole different world.

The sequel brings us a different director. Actress Elizabeth Banks, who also had a role in the first movie, takes on the challenge. “Pitch Perfect 2” has lots of jokes, but not a lot of character development. Less emotional moments, more Fat Amy (I still feel uncomfortable calling someone that). That’s fine, because the tempo is very high. Banks managed to picture the friendship between the Bellas very well.

The music is good, the movie has a great sound. Some popular hits and also classics modernized. I was confused by the serenade Fat Amy gave though, it was really unnecessary. Anna Kendrick was charming as ever and Rebel Wilson is sometimes overdoing it. Hailee Steinfeld was a nice addition to the cast and I really liked Keegan-Michael Key, who played Becca’s boss. He was actually the funniest part of the film.

If you’re a fan of the original, you will love this too. It’s much of the same, only bigger and bolder. Fun times!

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 138: Pitch Perfect

Director: Jason Moore

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Ben Platt, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins

Description: Beca (Anna Kendrick), a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

Review: “Pitch Perfect” usefully plays in on the success of the TV show “Glee”, that also centers around an a-capella groups of students. The popularity is thanks to the catchy songs and the ‘underdog’ characters. In “Pitch Perfect” the characters are a bit older, but the tenet is the same. Throw in a bunch a quirky characters, mix modern songs and a little bit of romance and everyone will be singing and swinging. The makers of the film never seem to know if they should parody or praise the a-capella groups though.

As a comedy the movie is pretty good. Rebel Wilson shows us that, in every scene she steals the thunder and I love her self-mockery. The movie is sometimes a bit predictable, but somehow it doesn’t bother me that much here. Even the cheesy boy-meets-girl storyline puts a smile on your face.

The lead role is played by Anna Kendrick, who we know from “Up in the Air”. The character of Beca fits her and she also has an incredible singing voice. I really liked her in “Pitch Perfect”. Together with the ever so charming Skylar Astin, she forms a great duo.

“Pitch Perfect” is a pleasant film, filled with catchy tunes. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson are the big plusses. If you like “Glee” you’re going to love “Pitch Perfect”. If you don’t, you better skip it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5