PITCH PERFECT 2 – RELAXING FUN – WELL ALMOST….

Some of the skits and  carry-ons in this eagerly awaited  sequel to Pitch Perfect which grossed $113m worldwide last year, with an outlay of $17m leave one gaping, gasping, gauping and generally a little flushed and embarrassed or on the edge of one’s seat with either laughter or anticipation of what will happen next with “The Bellas”. “The Bellas” are an  acapela girl group from the fictitious “Barden” University in the USA. The all-girl bunch include the popular Rebel Wilson – an Australian born actress and comedienne (also in The Bridesmaid  and a number of other high profile movies) who seems to specialise in playing the cheerful chubby and charming cuddly part and with her long blonde hair and bubbly personality she comes through to make the comedy really mesmerising. Also starring Anna Kendrick who plays a feisty redhead and with Elizabeth Banks, Hailee Steingfeld, Britanny Snow, Alexis Knapp, Katey Sagal and Anna Camp, the troup of girls don’t have much support from the deans at the uni as they always seem to end up committing slapstick skits when in performance mode.

The girls are determined not to give up and meet various rivals at acapela concerts including a somewhat terrifying German bunch who are eye-popping on stage, and the various groups have to come up with songs to hum and sing to at the behest of the MC’s.  Meanwhile, “Barden’s personal  MC’s – a cooky male and female and a rather eye catching duo of commentators have little faith in their “stars” and have no faith hat they will come through on top at a tough Copenhagen finale

However dedication and devotion win out and though the Germans are a really challenging bunch the girls win and we have celebratory scenes which raise a lot of fun.

One comment I most definitely wish to make as the reviewer of this popular musicomedy is that the girls from the winning group do NOT need to slide down the staircase on tea trays as part of their celebratory party.  It is not a good message to youngsters who might view t this story on DVD with their mums and dads and an activity like that should come with a warning – “Do not try this at home – especially if your staircase has twist and turns in it”.  This skit/stunt was not necessary to enhance the plot and was a damp squib to an otherwise highly entertaining way to spend a dull afternoon in the cinema.

Penny Nair Price