Pitch Perfect 3: Badass Bellas

Rating: 7/10 (30 December 2017)

After facing countless acapella competitions in the first two films, Christmas 2017 marks the last journey of Beca and her 'family' Barden Bellas singing together. This time, however, Barden Bellas wouldn't face another acapella team in an acapella competition. As a matter of fact, there is a little part of competition atmospheres (only when the Barden Bellas are playing with rip-off game with another bands) as this third installment focuses on things that much more important than winning any competition, which is to moving on to the next stage of our life. Beca is frustated with her job as music producer because she couldn't do what she thinks the best for musician's music. This is why she quits her job and agrees to go on a tour with other Barden Bellas members who also don't satisfy with their current life. Fat Amy meets her father again and thinks that he has changed so that they can live happily together like they used to be. Both Beca and Fat Amy are trapped within the past, they want to relive the past which is seemingly happier than present time and the future. And throughout Pitch Perfect 3, audience would be learning with them that someone could create their future without completely leaving the past behind (Beca would still have her 'family' even though she accepted DJ Khalid's offer).
Pitch Perfect 3 keeps the trilogy record for having amazing acapella performance (lots and lots of dancing and singing), but also goes all the way to make itself different with the first two films. Barden Bellas against music bands. Barden Bellas against the evil father of Fat Amy. Barden Bellas succesfully ruin DJ Khalid's room. With all of these things combined, Pitch Perfect 3 becomes an extraordinary musical film packed with right amount of comedy and action. It is like a Jackie Chan film plus singing and dancing.
The script is okay. The acting is amazing. The only problem of this film is the visual aspect. Similar camera movements are excessively used that make the visual looks boring, especially when Barden Bellas perform on stage. And I get a feeling of watching a travelling video blog rather than a film every time Barden Bellas are moving to another country. There would be a fast panning that shows the distance between the countries, then a montage of 'what would we find in the country' continues (ex: shots inside a busy outdoor market). This montage technique isn't able to convince us that Barden Bellas are actually in the same country with the camera. We don't see Barden Bellas inside any of this montage shots (correct me if I mistaken) and when we see Barden Bellas, we don't see anything we saw in the montage as they always perform at an indetail space (open grass field or inside a building).
Overall, Pitch Perfect 3 is a safe bet for watching with family or friend. Even though they might not like the story, the actors, or the visual, they wouldn't deny that Barden Bella's performance is enjoyable and funny moments are funny.