'Pitch Perfect 2': Just The Right Notes

It's almost acca-summer and the acca-sequel that's been on everyone's post-Avengers acca-must-watch list hit theaters this past weekend. Ever since 'Pitch Perfect' made a dent in 2012 and left everyone on the edge of their seats for the second acca-auditions, the anticipation has been reaching new heights as the time drew nearer and nearer for the release of 'Pitch Perfect 2'. The question is, did the Barden Bellas deliver the same acca-awesomeness and acca-fun that they did in the first installment of the series? The short answer is yes...but in a slightly different way.

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'Pitch Perfect 2' picks up after the Barden Bellas have grown into a famous cultural phenomenon. After Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) botches their pop performance in front of the President of the United States (complete with an Obama appearance) they are banished from the world of Acca-demia and are forced to roll with the punches of public scrutiny and embarrassment. To get back on their feet they decide to take on an International singing competition to represent America and win back all that they have lost. The twist: no American team has ever won or even come close to winning this competition. The Barden Bellas are faced with this seemingly-impossible task that's made even harder when the group is beaten by a German acapella group, Das Sound Machine, and wrestle with the problem of mashups and covers versus *whisper* original songs. To add on even more to that huge pile of story, Beca (Anna Kendrick) has to find peace between growing her own career as a producer while equally pouring her heart and time into the Bellas to prepare for Worlds. Yea...there's a lot of things going on here. With the large cast of characters and their addition of Emily Junk (Hailee Steinfeld) it makes sense. It feels really overwhelming at first but this was probably the best way to follow up the original sort-of-empty plot of 'Pitch Perfect'. The great thing is that amidst all the madness you really only have to keep up with Fat Amy, Beca and Emily because they carry the most weight and really help to progress the story with their own personal tales and they growing relationships with each other. The cherry on top of the already huge ice cream mountain is the surprise celebrity appearances in this movie far outnumber any other film I can think of. I won't spoil it all but expect to see some pretty big names on the silver screen. All in all there's no getting bored here.

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The dangerous thing with acca-hype is that it better be acca-worth it or else the sequel would be given what I call the "Last Airbender/Green Lantern Treatment" "Non-Existent Movie Treatment". This means that a film would be so horrid, so bad, so unspeakable that it's existence isn't worth remembering. So much so that you may find yourself from time to time reminiscing to the days of old and wishing that one day some good-hearted patron may come along and produce a decent adaptation of the series of your choosing. *Sigh*...maybe one day they'll make a Green Lantern movie...-tear-. -Sniff- anyway, luckily 'Pitch Perfect 2' doesn't fall into that. The makers of this film was very careful to do most things using their initial winning formula. You've got the obligatory vocal riff competition/soundtrack show off scene, your golden Fat Amy moments, the unsettling-yet-hilarious Lilly moments (complete with Asian stereotypes) and the crude sexual and racial humor that only Pitch Perfect can pull off so well.

With that being said, brace yourselves before seeing this. Due to the four year gap between 'Pitch Perfect' and 'Pitch Perfect 2' most fans may forget the nature of the humor that bounces off every possible wall that's unique to this series. This may turn some people away from what lies beneath but it's a hurdle that I think is unavoidable after so much time as passed since the first installment. I'm eagerly awaiting the feminists and activist alike to rise up in an unstoppable tide of burning torches and mean looks to burn this film on a stake...but until then eat, laugh, and be merry with 'Pitch Perfect 2'.

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'Pitch Perfect' was never a good movie, it's more like a cinematic guilty pleasure, but it's really entertaining so it makes up for the hitches in the film making.  Just putting it out there, that should also be said for 'Pitch Perfect 2'. Despite the Bellas' formidable journey along the acca-road of acca-freedom there are some bumps you're going to feel. Given the high note that 'Pitch Perfect' finished on, 'Pitch Perfect 2' does not hit the bar. There's a lot of mental work to do to catch up and by the time you're done it's already ten minutes into the movie. There's also a slower pace to everything unfolding. Dedicated 'Pitch Perfect' fans may find themselves anxious at times because there's a lot of time dedicated into making things unfold. I assure you that it will all be worth it at the end. Another thing that kind of worked against this film's potential is that if you've seen the first one then you already know a lot of what to expect. 'Pitch Perfect' was such a unique movie that it's not surprise that it took off and was loved by all. You won't get the same fuzzy feeling with the sequel...but I think that's okay. With the first movie becoming such a cult classic titan it would prove to be something hard to follow up on. 'Pitch Perfect 2' took a different direction while maintaining the same winning playbook that ensured the first film's success. Fans may find this a bit difficult to warm up to but all in all it paves the way for the upcoming 'Pitch Perfect 3' so it's not all bad. There's a lot to understand and take into consideration with this film but you know what, that's how sequels should be.

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Despite a few missed notes here and there, 'Pitch Perfect 2' manages to hit just the right amount of notes to sing a sweet tune. This film sticks close to what makes it flourish while strategically expanding it's borders to both hug already existing fans and be welcoming to those who are new to the world of acca-awesomeness. It may come off as a movie that's more on the feminine side of the spectrum but don't let that stop you from enjoying some great jokes, awesome mashups, and an all around great time. If anything, watch it just for the German-sounding cover of Muse's 'Uprising' and an incredible 'My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark'/'All I Do Is Win' mashup. For the 'Pitch Perfect' fan, don't miss this flick. For the casual movie-goer, give this a try (after you've seen 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' of course).