Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Pitch Perfect 2 Hits A High Note For Fun and Amazing Singing by Art Byrd

When the first Pitch Perfect movie came out in 2012. I waited about four weeks to see it. I was disappointed that I waited that long because I really enjoyed the movie, the music, the characters and The Bellas coming together to win.

As for Pitch Perfect 2, I was wondering how the sequel would come together. So, I went the first weekend to find out and I was so glad that I went. Pitch Perfect 2 follows the same formula that worked in the first with some small tweaks.


The storyline begins years after the Bellas won their first A Capella national championship. They have won ever since. Most of the Bellas are seniors. Now the Bellas are performing at the Lincoln Center where President Obama and Mrs. Obama are in attendance. The Bellas are performing well. Then, Fat Amy played by Rebel Wilson is suspended above the stage in some sort of hanging contraption. At one point of the song, Fat Amy does a flip and splits her pants showing everything. The crowd was horrified including the first family which is a very funny moment.

The Bellas are suspended from performing anywhere by their college and the A Cappella Society. With a loophole, The Bellas are able to compete in the World A Cappella championships where no U.S  A Capella group has ever won.

If a movie like Pitch Perfect 2 can have a villain, it would be the German A Cappella team called Das Sound Machine.  Their lead singer, Kommissar played by Birgitte Hjort Sorensen is very commanding and confident as she belittles the Bellas when talking to them.

The Bellas are a little intimidated by Das Sound Machine especially Beca played by Anna Kendrick who is somewhat flustered and attracted to Kommissar. It is very funny and cute how she deals with it.

Pitch Perfect 2 has some great moments such as the flirtatious exchange between Fat Amy and Bumper played by Adam DeVince. Beca is doing an internship at a recording studio with a producer played by Keegan-Michael Key where she discovers her real talent.  Hailee Steinfeld, who was a standout in the movie True Grit, now does it again as, Emily, a legacy Bella pledge. She is bright, enthusiastic and the one to keep the Bellas tradition going.

One of my favorite parts of the film was the musical riffoff at the home of a millionaire type guy played by David Cross (Arrested Development). The Bellas, Das Sound Machine and the Green Bay Packers, yes, the actually football players such as Clay Matthews, David Bakhtiari, Don Barclay, Josh Sitton, T.J Lang and Jordan Rodgers, with others groups competing against each other under certain categories of music. The hilarious moments were how the groups were eliminated from the competition.

In the theater, I sat in the same row with a four to five year girl who said during one of the performances, “Go Girl.” That's what made it so much fun to watch Pitch Perfect 2 with an audience.

One of the strong element in the Pitch Perfect movies is the music that is recognizable and easy for the audience to sing a lot.  It makes the movie such a feel good experience. The Bellas singing a version When I Am Gone without the cups is worth the ticket price.

Actress Elizabeth Banks who plays Gail, the commentator of the A Cappella competition in the movie did an excellent job directing this follow-up.

If you looking forward to feeling good, having fun and hearing amazing singing. Pitch Perfect 2 will have you singing with your friends out to the movie theater parking lot.

Here is the trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bh4mvJ5jUg

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