After the Bellas feel embarrassed in front of a very important political figure, they must compete in an international competition to save their reputation. Most comedy sequels aren’t as good as the first movie, and Perfect pitch 2 it certainly follows this trope. I liked the first movie. It had great music, some funny moments, and a genuine heart. It was far from perfect, but I left it feeling fulfilled. I did not share the same sentiment with this movie. While the music is still pretty good and the plot is pretty interesting, the laughs aren’t that frequent, the writing is uneven, and the movie as a whole didn’t feel as genuine as the first one.

Bitches aca-wiedersehen!

Before we delve into the negatives of the film, there are several positives that the film is right on. First of all, the music is incredibly memorable. However, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first movie (more on that later). I particularly loved the riff-off scene and the final performances of the sound machine Bellas and Das. This is where the movie really shines, and I applaud the cast and crew for continuing to deliver engaging music and performances. Along with the music, I thought the plot was handled pretty well. I thought she took a very interesting route where the Bellas are essentially nearing the end of their time at Barden University and looking to their future. This was handled very well when it comes to Becca. He had some tough decisions to make, as well as some tough realities. Another advantage of the film is also the performances of the entire cast. They all do a great job, even though some of the characters aren’t that great (more on that later as well). The standout for me has to be Keegan-Michael Key. It was fun and provided some of the best moments in the movie. In general, these components of the film were handled very well and are the ones that mainly elevate this film.

Slapped tone

Unfortunately, having an interesting plot and engaging musical sequences doesn’t save the movie. Going back to music, although it was great, it was not as surprising as the first time. Bella’s final performance from the first movie is still the best musical number this franchise has to offer. I really hoped his final performance this time would rival her, but it didn’t. It was still a very good performance, with a lot of heart, but it lacks the uniqueness of the first film. Another problem with the film lies in the writing and the characters. The writers completely fitted Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) into the film. Steinfeld does a good job on screen, but his character is terrible. We spent too much time with her and I just didn’t care. She (eventually) has a big role in the movie, but I can’t help but feel like her role could have been anyone else’s and it could have worked a little better. Instead, we have a neglected one-dimensional character who never proves his worth (again, the character, not the actor). The problems with Emily’s character are also very prominent in the rest of the writing. It is very careless. That’s why the jokes (for me) didn’t come as often as the first one. I found myself chuckling from time to time, but I never laughed much. This is also why certain moments didn’t feel as genuine as in the first movie. Good writing really helps a lot, and sadly, the movie’s writing didn’t measure up.

Closing remarks

I really wanted this movie to bring back the magic of the first movie, and while it did in some ways, it lost a lot of magic in others. However, despite all the problems I had with the film, there were some aspects that I enjoyed. The movie certainly ends in a way that could invite a third movie, and I hope they don’t make one (even though it’s making so much money, which means they probably will).