The Bellas are back in Pitch Perfect 2
Fans are stoked.
Pitch Perfect 2, the sequel to the successful 2012 a capella comedy, opened in U.S. theaters this week. The film once again follows the comeback story of the Barden University Bellas, who are recovering from yet another public humiliation (“Muffgate,’’ draw your parallels if you must). They’re finding trust and harmony through sisterhood, and meanwhile, they’re anticipating the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
Fans are stoked. The first movie, a sleeper hit, grossed $113 million worldwide. Its soundtrack was the best-selling soundtrack of 2013, with star Anna Kendrick’s performance of “Cups’’ peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Kendrick has been welcomed by the masses to the elusive cult of the cool girl. And a third installment has already been confirmed.
John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks.
Pittsfield native Elizabeth Banks, who reprises her role as saucy collegiate a capella commentator alongside John Michael Higgins (also Boston bred), made her directorial debut with the sequel. Writer Kay Cannon also returned for the second film (which she also co-produced), with episodes of 30 Rock and New Girl under her belt. There’s more depth to the daftness of the characters in the world Banks and Higgins have crafted, and certainly a reliance on preemptive conditioning of plot. I don’t want to say they’ve duplicated an original, but it certainly comes close.
At the center of the Bellas, Beca (Kendrick) attempts to find balance between a demanding record production internship with an even more demanding boss (Keegan-Michael Key is fantastic) and her integral, but fleeting role creating the musical arrangements for the group. Beca’s surly nature — enhanced by Kendrick’s own well-publicized and documented devil-may-care demeanor — grounds the cast, who flick in and out of her orbit, speaking in punchlines and euphonies.
Like its predecessor, Pitch Perfect 2’s reliance on racial and cultural stereotypes to define its lesser characters quickly becomes exhausting and feels lazy the second time around. As I was leaving Tuesday’s screening, behind crowds of diehards, contest winners, and a cappella enthusiasts, I overheard a group of college-aged students discussing just how “racist’’ the movie was. “I can’t believe they took it as far as they did,’’ said one.
The Bellas find themselves in the line of fire again.
However, the “basic bitch’’ might take the worst beating. In this iteration, Chloe (Brittany Snow) reveals she’s failed a Russian lit class three times as to stay a Bella since the student group has become her family, and she’s too fearful to move on from college. She vows to become a teacher for underprivileged youth… or an exotic dancer. Meanwhile, newcomer Bella Florencia “Flo’’ Fuentes (Chrissie Fit), a South American exchange student, continuously diffuses tense situations with awkward references to her despondency over her impending deportation. A step back, and neither scenario is very funny.
But a head jerk away, and the film is. A bevy of cameos are more than enough to keep a live audience cheering for more. (Robin Wright! The Green Bay Packers! Snoop Dogg!) There’s Hailee Steinfeld-Anna Kendrick duet that’s sure to be stuck in your head for days. (Spoiler alert: Steinfeld is passed a proverbial torch by the end of the film.) There’s good foot-tapping, smile-inducing fun to be had. Just don’t look too closely.
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