Misses All the Notes

Rating: 5/10 (28 May 2015)

This is a near-perfect example of what I like to call the "lesser sequel syndrome. I think that it's safe to say that this has existed ever since the very first sequel hit the big screen. With a few exceptions (Toy Story 2 & 3 most notably), you'd be hard-pressed to find a sequel that actually surpasses the original in terms of quality. And Pitch Perfect 2 exemplifies this theory almost to a fault. The charm and quirkiness of the first film is almost entirely missing. It's as if the screenwriter decided to see how many clichés and stereotypes they could fit into the film. There's the dimwitted but lovable boyfriend, the hip, to-cool-for-you boss, no shortage of racial jokes that very much miss the mark, and the eclectic group of friends (in this case, the Barden Bellas, who are pretty much the focal point of the movie) that manage to pull together in order to beat the odds. That wouldn't be a huge problem if the story that had been crafted around them was good. But it's not - it's lazy, in idea and execution. Not only that, but the pacing is some of the worst I've seen on the big screen. The film manages to become more boring as it progresses towards the climax. All that being said, there are a few redeeming factors. Elizabeth Banks and John Micheal Higgins are a riot as the hosts of the podcast "Let's Talk-Apella", and Rebel Wilson is able to provide some great comic relief. In fact, most of the cast is solid (except Hailee Steinfeld, frankly, it looks like she didn't put an ounce of effort into her role).
So, while Pitch Perfect 2 isn't a truly awful film, in all honesty, it's pretty close to being one. 5/10, would not recommend.