European PP

Rating: 4/10 (3 March 2018)

The girls are struggling to do life after the Bellas. Gail (Elizabeth Banks) and John (John Michael Higgins) are making their documentary on the Bellas. Beca (Anna Kendrick) quits her music producing job. Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) invites the girls to a performance but she's actually leading the new Bellas and the girls are simply audience. Desperate to sing together again, Aubrey (Anna Camp) uses her estranged father's military connection to get into the USO. They travel to Europe where they are in competition to be the opening act of DJ Khaled. Calamity (Ruby Rose) leads their main competitors. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is pursued by her estranged Fergus (John Lithgow).
At least, the gang is back and that's half the battle. Their group chemistry is the heart and soul of this franchise. Beca and Fat Amy have a great back and forth relationship. However, Fat Amy's ridiculous story is not funny and her gimmick gets less fun especially without Beca. This is a collapsing franchise. Like others before it, this one goes over to Europe to speed up the decline. The writing is clunky and a throwback to bad sequel writing. It's weak and cliche in a bad way. Trying to be an action camp is probably a wrong move. It might work as a Bond spoof if it dives in head first. This simply doesn't work other than the girls' group relationships.