Cast: It's big. Nearly everyone is back from the first movie as well as several other key additions this time around. Anna Kendrick is still the lead, although it's clear that this is more comfortably written as an ensemble by now (which is not a reflection on Kendrick). Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine, Ben Platt, Anna Camp, and yes, John Michael Higgins and director Elizabeth Banks all get moments to shine. Even Kelley Jakle and Shelley Regner return for a joke about never getting the spotlight. Hailee Steinfeld is brought in as an insurance policy if Kendrick decides not to return for the inevitable sequel. Chrissie Fit is the only new Bella in the three years between movies until Steinfeld shows up and has a great one-joke character. Brigitte Hjort-Sorensen and Flula Borg make great German rivals. Keegan-Michael Key steals every scene he's in. Did I mention Snoop Dogg? As I said, this is a huge cast.
Plot: The Barden Bellas have been on a tear since we last saw them, dominating the a cappella scene for the past three years until a very public accident derails them and nearly disbands them. Through <plot device> they can still compete for the world championship, so that's what they do. Meanwhile, Beca (Kendrick) has an internship at a record company that she has to balance with her Bella responsibilities. Emily (Steinfeld) is a legacy they are allowed to bring into the Bellas through <plot device> and she has trouble breaking into this tight knit sisterhood. Fat Amy (Wilson) finds love and is afraid to accept it. Those are the central stories. There's several smaller ones as well. It's a very busy movie.
Elephant in the Room: Is there a difference between being a good movie and a good sequel? Yes, but it's not a bad difference. This is a great sequel. It takes what people loved about the first movie and doubled-down on all of it. The jokes are bigger. The performances are more elaborate. The characters are more cartoonish. Story takes a major backseat. And that's the difference between being a sequel and Part 2 in a series. It doesn't have an effect on this movie. It just means that I'm worried about the third movie.
To Sum Things Up:
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. Any fan of the first movie will be more than pleased to watch this. It's hard to believe a PG-13 movie can be this funny these days. Everyone is having a blast and Elizabeth Banks seamlessly makes her directorial debut. Anna Kendrick is as delightful as ever. Wilson is big and funny too. Steinfeld has some room to grow, but doesn't disrupt the chemistry at all. As I've already mentioned, the movie is very busy and short changes a lot of stories (the climactic competition is virtually an afterthought). Pitch Perfect is a solid all-around movie. Pitch Perfect 2 is more of a helluva joke delivery system. I could always use a good laugh, so that's fine by me.
Verdict (?): Strongly Recommend
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