Pitch Perfect 2 opens with a joke about a girl who can’t sing and closes with a song that almost redeems it. The sequel picks up after Barden University’s Bellas win the world championship, and now they’re national champions. That’s the problem. Winning means they’ve nowhere else to go.
Trailer, via Pitch Perfect.
A New Song
The movie spends its first half building toward a new anthem, and the writing wastes the opportunity. Jokes land once and then get repeated. The plot drags through a talent show, a campus takeover, and a villain who exists mostly to be defeated. None of it earns the runtime.
The Singing
When the movie stops talking and starts singing, it gets better fast. The Bellas perform a mashup medley that’s the film’s high point, and the final number, delivered in a moment of genuine stakes, lands with real weight. These sequences work because the cast sells the emotion and the music carries the scene.
What Works
The best parts of Pitch Perfect 2 are:
- The Bellas performing together
- The final song
- A few jokes that land the first time
What Doesn’t
The weakest parts are:
- The middle section, where the plot stalls
- Jokes that repeat themselves
- Characters who feel less distinct than in the first film
The Numbers
- Title: Pitch Perfect 2
- Score: 6.3 out of 10
- Runtime: Full length
A Mixed Bag
Pitch Perfect 2 isn’t a disaster. It has moments of real energy and some of the best musical numbers in the franchise. But the script doesn’t match the talent on screen. The movie knows how to put on a show and barely knows how to build one.
Final Word
Pitch Perfect 2 is a step down from the original, weighed down by filler jokes and a middle section that drags. The singing saves it. For fans, the final number alone is worth the ticket. For everyone else, the movie is a mixed bag with a strong finish.
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