The Bellas Perform in Pitch Perfect

 

        What was oddest to me is that my husband really wanted to see them. He usually avoids musicals like the plague, and wasn’t even interested in college comedies when he was in college. I’ve asked him over and over why he wanted to see these movies so badly, and he just shrugs and says, “I don’t know. They look pretty funny I guess.” I don’t think that was a very solid answer, to say the least, but I eventually gave in anyways. I mean, there have been so many other times that he wants to see something I’m not remotely interested in, only to have them be some of the best flicks ever. Plus, I’ve made him watch so many films that end up being total garbage that I feel like I owe him, to an extent. And that’s the story of how I recently found myself watching these films back to back. I’ll get to if it was worth it shortly…

The Treble Makers in Pitch Perfect

 

        First I’d like to tell you a little about the plot of each film. Pitch Perfect the original is a classic us vs. them story. Beca, played by Kendrick, is a newly arrived freshman trying to find her way through the ins and outs of life at Barden University. Eventually she winds up as a member of the Barden Bellas, the all-female, award-winning acapella group at the school as the girls gear up to take on the Treble Makers (the all-male group) in the finals.

        Pitch Perfect 2 has the same sort of plot, with only minor differences. Beca, now the leader of the Bellas, has trouble keeping everything together during her senior year at Barden.  A wave of controversy threatens to dismantle the group, while the mounting pressures of an internship start to unravel Beca’s usually cool demeanor. The only way for the Bellas to redeem themselves and remain in existence is to overcome the German group Das Sound Machine in the World Championships.

    Das Sound Machine Heats up the Competition in Pitch Perfect 2

        You’d think that because my hopes for these two films were so low I wouldn’t have been all that disappointed in them, but you’d be mistaken. Not to say that either film didn’t have its moments. There were plenty of times throughout each when I found myself chuckling, but a few minor funny bits sprinkled here and there does nothing to make the rest of the runtime go by any faster.

        “But wait!” I can here you saying, “What about the music?” This too was another let down for these films. Both of them feature songs that are old, by today’s standards, and did nothing to perk up these weak cinematic offerings.

        The final nail in the Pitch Perfects coffin for me was the ending of each film. I’ve said over and over again that there’s nothing I hate more than predictable plots, and these two had ones that even a toddler (well, not really but you know what I’m saying) could guess. Usually I’d go in to how I don’t want to spoil it for you, but not this time. Everything that you think will happen by the end of each film happens…there, I said it!

        I’m not sure what I’d recommend in place of these two…I suppose almost anything would do. My only real recommendation in this case would be to save these for the teenage girls in your life, and hope that you won’t be forced to endure them yourselves. And just think…they just started filming Pitch Perfect 3…so maybe they’ll get it right a third time!

       Pitch Perfect 1 and 2 are both rated PG-13, directed by Elizabeth Banks and star Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skyler Astin and Adam Devine. They are both available now on Blu Ray, DVD and streaming.