5-word review: Ear-pleasing, frequently witty, predictably empty

Rating: 6/10 (21 May 2015)

Following the surprise success of 2012's Pitch Perfect, a sequel was inevitable. Re-uniting fan favourites Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson with actor-turned-actor/director Elizabeth Banks, Pitch Perfect 2 follows the Barden Bellas encountering trouble threatening their aca-mplishments along the way. Adding Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld to the ensemble cast, Pitch Perfect 2 also sees Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp and Adam DeVine reprise their roles from the original.
Pitch Perfect was quite a refreshing surprise. Though it will never inspire quite the same reaction in me as it would a 14-year-old girl, it's decently made and doesn't descend too much into tired, Gleek-ridden clichés. This sequel is determined to do everything bigger and bolder. The music sets are still impressive and sure to evoke taps from the toe, most notably a German group's fantastic rendition of Muse's Uprising (a song which this film helped me get back into) and the ever-popular "riff-off". This is better than it was the first time around, probably due to Arrested Development's wonderful David Cross hosting the event. Also done bigger is the comedy. Less subtle, perhaps, than the 2012 original but certainly more frequent. In fact, it seems to be the case that Banks is so determined to include something funny in every scene that there is a distinct lack of 'real' scenes - that is to say, scenes featuring characters interacting without self-deprecating humour. It does sometimes come off as a little desperate - the one-note characters played by Hana Mae Lee (the odd, soft- spoken, Korean girl) and Chrissie Fit (Guatemalan girl with the rough upbringing.) They're usually funny, but it does become a tad wearing eventually. And there is, overall, luckily more funny moments of humour than the irritating and awkward moments.
Kendrick and Wilson, however, are as effectively likable as ever, and it's always nice to see Hailee Steinfeld acting (even if she is just playing a Disney Channel character.) John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks once again display wonderful chemistry as the a capella commentators. They have more scenes than before, and like with the rest of the film the comedy is more obvious. It's still funny though. Admittedly a little disjointed, Pitch Perfect 2 won't be as execrable as you might have thought a sequel like this could be. It really is an enjoyable watch, and you'll probably come out of it feeling like it wasn't amazing or awful, but certainly with a tune or two stuck in your head, and having chuckled a decent amount. Watch out for Pentatonix as well.
Pitch Perfect 2 stands just a mite under a full 7.0 at 6.8/10.