TwitterThe Barden Bellas are back, but are they better than ever? Some say yes, some say no. With Elizabeth Banks tapped as director the second installment, some critics argue that the comedienne really makes it sing while others argue that a sequel wasn't necessary at all. New to the cast was Hailee Steinfeld, who received an Oscar nomination for her role in True Grit, and critics agree she was a welcome addition.
Here is a roundup of what critics are saying about Pitch Perfect 2:
• Deadline's Pete Hammond notes the thin plot, but says the narrative isn't as important as the characters and songs. "But plot is secondary to the music, fun and distinct characters and a winning concept that looks like it could be coming back for a Round 3," he writes.
He also praises Banks' work not only as director but also as an actress herself in the film. "Banks not only scores comic points on camera as the color commentator for the singing competition (with a terrific John Michael Higgins), she savvily knows how to milk everyone else's comic moments without going over the top," he continues.
• Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly argues Pitch Perfect 2's qualities were predictable from the get-go—there would be more jokes, songs and medleys than the first one. But she credits PP2 for giving a "voice" to a targeted group.
"PP2 sometimes feels less like a movie than a two-hour episode of Glee ghostwritten by Amy Schumer; jokes fly like they're being shot from T-shirt guns at a gonzo pep rally, and not all of them stick the landing," she writes, "but the story also gives big, joyful voice to groups whose members have spent their whole lives being targeted because of who they are, be it black, gay, overweight, female, or just deeply uncool."
• The Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips didn't really find anything redeeming about the movie, save for Rebel Wilson's character Fat Amy, but even that name, he says, is "a drag." He writes, "I found the new movie snide and lazy instead of wittily sarcastic. Slight difference there, and even talented screenwriters and promising first-time directors can miss it."
• Forbes' Scott Mendelson gives PP2 a glowing review, including raves for Banks' work. "Elizabeth Banks' directorial debut flirts with some surprisingly potent commentary amid the high-energy musical numbers and fan-friendly gags, and it adds a surprising kick to the narrative behind surface level entertainment. Everyone is happy to be back, and their engagement is infectious," he writes. "Pitch Perfect 2 is a rare case where 'bigger, faster, bigger' works. It is a more rousing and more energetic affair compared to the somewhat lethargic (but admittedly leisurely) Pitch Perfect.
• Guy Lodge of Variety even thinks that PP2 could be better than its predecessor. "When Beyoncé's brisk female-empowerment jam 'Run the World (Girls)' kicks off a key musical number in Pitch Perfect 2, it plays as something of a mission statement for the film itself: Both behind and in front of the camera, women call every shot of consequence in this ebulliently entertaining, arguably superior sequel to the 2012 musical comedy hit."
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