How do you take one of the hottest films of 2012 and deliver a sequel? That must have been the toughest question for director and writer Elizabeth Banks (who also has a large role in the film as well!) the first step is getting the entire cast of the first film to return, Check
-Delivering high quality music and routines, Check
-Making Fat Amy just as hilarious and loveable as the first film, Check!
Not only has Pitch Perfect 2 delivered on the original film, it manages to one up itself into glorious sequel territory by progressing these characters forward and literally taking on the world as they are thrust into the international spotlight.
It isn’t all laughs and cups though, the film opens as the girls perform for the president on his birthday, and a hilarious Wrecking Ball moment with Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) leaves the girls disgraced and exiled from the acapella community (that is locally!) as reigning champs, they still have the opportunity to participate in the world championships, and if they win, get reinstated and the Bella name restored. It should be easy though right, they are the Bella’s? Well not really, German vocal group Das Sound Machine are an unstoppable, intimidating force of nature who give the girls a real run for their money.
So I guess the only big questions left are it is as funny as the original? and is the music as good? I can easily answer those, the 
music I felt didn’t live up to the original, keep in mind though that this film is more about the story and delving deeper into these characters as individuals and discovering what is next for them, that being said, the Bella’s could have performed one or two more numbers and this would have pleased me. Is it funny as the original? Yes, yes and YES!!! Fat Amy has less fat jokes, and more general jokes, the supporting cast deliver the zingers hard and fast as we have come to expect from them.
One of the biggest surprises was the heart of the film, as in the previous instalment, the Bella’s and their friendship are the integral part of this and it shines through in the most beautiful way. There is a scene when they are bonding at a retreat, the musical montage is going, they are doing various activities and the laughs, the smiles and the theme of friendship and love pours out of the screen and makes you feel good about everything. Then a few minutes later the girls are talking about life after college, sitting around singing the most heart-wrenching version of “Cups”.
This film is a major leap forward for the series, and a shining example of how a sequel can be just as good, if not better than the original film. Dazzling outfits, show stopping musical numbers, a lot of heart and more than a few belly laughs, this hits all the high notes and delivers one of the best films of 2015. Do yourself a favour, grab all your friends and head out and see this movie together!
Pitch Perfect 2 is in cinemas on Thursday.
Review by Alaisdair Dewar
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