The highly-anticipated sequel to 2012’s Pitch Perfect hit the theaters this past weekend and definitely took the box offices by storm with a worldwide total of $107.3 million on opening weekend, far more than the original film. Generally collecting fair reviews from critics, Pitch Perfect 2 seemed to have sated its target audience.
However, the sequel failed to meet my own expectations. Whereas the first movie was a pleasant surprise of a huge amount of witty humor mixed with pretty catchy music, the second came with a lot of high expectations and a reasonable amount of disappointment as a result.
I personally would have liked to have seen more development from Beca’s relationship with her boyfriend, Jesse, as he seemed to be a rather static character throughout the entire film, falling in line beside the Bellas as they go through their journey of rediscovering their sound.
Rebel Wilson’s famed ad-libs from the first movie left me wanting more, but in this one, her jokes fell a little flat at times which was a minor letdown. Although there were a few good cracks, it was not nearly up to the par that I expected it to be. Amy’s on-and-off-again relationship with Bumper was kind of unexpected, but nonetheless fitting and added another angle to Rebel Wilson’s cinematic masterpiece called Fat Amy.
But the biggest issue? The plotline seemed to be recycled from the first Pitch Perfect. The underground singing competition hosted by the “biggest fan of a cappella” instantly reminds the viewer of the original Riff-Off, complete with the cliché song categories. The Bellas embark on a seemingly impossible task in both films but somehow end up defying all odds and accomplish their goals flawlessly. Also, Beca seems to stray away from her duties as a Bella each time to focus on her music and career as a result of an overbearing ring-leader—first, Aubrey, and later, Chloe.
I did like the way that new characters were brought into the storyline, especially Emily. The way she and Beca connected played really well into the resolution of the film, and her role in the Bellas allowed viewers to see clearly that the group had a future after the seniors left.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have placed so much faith in a movie made solely for humorous purposes, but the tone of the movie fell flat for me. If you’re looking for a little music and some laughs on your next trip to the movie theater, Pitch Perfect 2 may be a good match for you.