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The Pitches are back, and while the
Bellas prove they've still got swagger, they lack the spark that made
us really love them in the first place. The Barden Bellas have been
ruling the world of collegiate a cappella since we last saw them, but
with that success and the lack of Aubrey's stringent leadership the
girls have gotten sloppy. They've lost their identity and can't get
through a performance without some sort of catastrophe. Just as in
the first one, the Bellas have to come together to after a very
embarrassing display. Instead of projectile vomit, its muffgate at
the Kennedy Center in front of the POTUS and FLOTUS. The girls not
only get their victory tour taken from them after the snafu, but in
order for the Bellas to redeem themselves and not be disbanded
forever after their current season they have to win the World
Championship in Copenhagen. The Chief competition comes in the form
of: Das Sound Machine. They're a super slick group of juggernauts
that make the Treblemakers look like tiny talentless human children.
Seriously maybe its just their height, but they look much older than
the Bellas, even super senior (she failed Russian Lit three times to
stay a Bella) Chloe but they put on slick techno show with some
powerhouse vocals.
All of the Bellas return in some
capacity. Leading the pack is Anna Kendrick's Beca, who comes off
more prickly than in the first outing. She's secretive, and utterly
bitchy, trying to find her footing, not within the group or college
this time, but at a recording studio she's managed to snag a coveted
internship at. Although she manages to prove her worth by singing a
Christmas carol mash-up with Snoop Dogg, she still has a long way to
prove that she's more than a one trick pony. Her mash-up skills
aren't going to be enough this time. We've seen that, anyone with a
laptop can make or find dozens of them on youtube. As she tries to
impress her prickly boss, the film should take its own advice and
bring something new to the table rather than rehashing it's former
material in a less awesome way.
Remember that great mash-up audition of
Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" from the first
one,followed up by the 2012 anthem "Cups"? Don't expect any
of that this time around. As a part of their punishment the Bella's
aren't allowed to recruit new members, but that doesn't mean that
there aren't any auditions, there just isn't any fun in the one they
do have. Instead you get an awkward cringe worthy single audition by
Hailee Steinfield's Legacy Bella Emily. She doesn't have super
mash-up skills to bring to the table, or even an amazing voice, but
her mother (Katey Sagal) was a Bella, with makes her practically
royalty and is enough to get her on the team. Unlike Beca's outsider
vibe in the first one, Emily is so coltish she's hard to watch. Her
one saving grace is the absolutely adorkable budding relationship she
sparks with Treblemaker and magician Benji (Ben Platt).
Speaking of relationships, the one
between Jesse (Skylar Astin) and Beca is practically nonexistent. He
may have captured our hearts when he serenaded Beca with Foreigner’s
"Feels Like The First Time” without coming off like a glee
castoff. Not to mention how we rooted for them as he forgave Beca
during her Simple Mind's "Don't You Forget About Me"
mash-up. But none of that matters, this time around they share maybe
three scenes, with little that invokes the warm and fuzzies. Most of
the romance is left to Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and obnoxious former
Treblemaker leader Bumper (Adam DeVine). Falling back into the overly
used secret hook-up schtick between the two, before the moment of
revelation is tiresome. Embarrassing tension and power vocals can
only take you so far.
Also tiresome is the mean spirited
humor. The original was full of self-effacing humor, and hilarious
one liners. Instead we're faced with ethnic barbs and flat sexist
jokes. Bella Flo (Chrissie Fit) seems to only get screen time when
cracking jokes about growing up in poverty-stricken South America or
when a back flip is needed. Worst, commentators John (John Michael
Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks) get expanded roles with John
upping the degrading comments. Sure a few of his pompous comments are
funny, but the zingers land with less sting as the film goes on.
Pitch Perfect 2 doesn't fall flat with
every effort. Das Sound Machine poses a legitimate threat, even more
so than the Treblemakers did in the first one. The riff off is a lot
of fun, especially with the addition of the Green Bay Packers. It's
not as surprising this time around, but it isn't any less fun with a
Dave and Busters card on the line, and categories like "I Dated
John Mayer."
The production numbers are absolutely
dazzling, but Pitch Perfect 2 is best when it's Bellas are together
and bonding. When they go on a retreat they have to overcome their
differences and disagreements by using their brains and talents. The
culmination of the moment is when they sing “Cups” to each other
over a camp fire, its sincere and sweet, and every reason why we were
dying for a sequel. Then again, there's nothing really surprising in
this sequel. It was impossible to recapture the spark that made the
original so memorable. Beca blowing us away with her surprise
rendition of "Cups" can't be duplicated by Emily launching
into not quite finished "Flashlight." The new girl blowing
the riff off by not understanding the rules doesn't have the same
disappointment this time around, it's far too gawky and embarrassing
when Emily is center attention. Fat Amy splitting her pants onstage
isn't nearly as funny as the high-strung Aubrey puking like a fire
hydrant at the big competition. Pitch Perfect 2 should be like bubbly
freshly corked champagne, like its predecessor, rather than the day
old less than fizzy drink it is. It's drinkable and still tasty, but
not nearly as good as it could be. You'll see it for the nostalgia,
but you won't be as eager for another sequel.
