Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

Directed by Elizabeth Banks
Written by Kay Cannon, based on characters created by Mickey Rapkin
Starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow and Hailee Steinfeld

After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform.

This film did not miss a single beat, no pun intended, from it's predecessor. Where many sequels try to explain where the group has been since their last journey, and bore the audience with unnecessary back story, this movie just jumps right into the plot without hesitation.

In her feature length directorial debut, Elizabeth Banks shines at the helm of this film. She created a fun and humorous sequel to the 2012 film in which she had a small, bit part. Her talent as a director is unquestionable in my mind after witnessing this enjoyable musical ride.

What else is there to say about this movie? I mean, it doesn't have any deep, well thought undertones. It doesn't have any kind of agenda or opinion to give. It is just a fun, enjoyable movie. Despite my disdain for watching people sing solos (it makes me very uncomfortable), I found myself laughing and tapping my feet after those solos were over. And that's all this movie really wants to accomplish.

My Rating: 7/10

Pitch Perfect (2012)

Directed by Jason Moore
Written by Kay Cannon based on the book by Mickey Rapkin
Starring Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson and Skylar Astin

Beca, a reclusive freshman at Barden University with dreams of becoming a music producer, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school’s all-girls singing group. The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

I have to admit, from the time this movie came out up until this very week, I avoided this movie like the plague. For me, the whole competitive A Cappella, “Glee” inspired fad is so tired. Everyone and their mothers and their mother’s mothers have attempted an A Cappella based show or movie. So naturally, I was skeptical to watch it. But I did. And it wasn’t as bad as I imagined. However, that’s the highest compliment I can give it.

I am nowhere near the key demographic for this movie, so please take everything I say about it with a grain of salt. It wasn’t good. It wasn’t terrible. It was…OK. Many of the jokes were poorly executed or felt incredibly forced.

However, I will say that the jokes that did land for me, landed very well and had me laughing harder than I ever thought I would watching this movie. In particular, everything Lilly Okanakamura said was on point.

All in all, I’m glad I watched it. I may not have loved it quite as much as some people I know, but it was an enjoyable movie and now I have some idea of what to expect from the sequel. It had great songs and fun characters who all had unique personalities, which is definitely not something I expected. It just goes to show you that sometimes a movie can take you by surprise.

My Rating: 6.5/10