‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Review Roundup: Singing Sequel Wins Over Critics

Pitch Perfect 2,  the sequel to 2012’s surprise smash hit about an all-female college a capella group, has earned as much – and possible more – praise than the beloved original.

Pitch Perfect 2

This time around, the Barden Bellas are headed to the national a capella championships in Copenhagen. Now that they’re commingling with Barden’s male a capella group, the Treblemakers, they’re in need of a new nemesis – which comes in the form of German group Das Sound Machine. Intimidated by their more polished rivals, the Bellas try some outrageous gimmicks, only to realize they’re at their best when they’re just themselves. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow and many of the other girls have reprised their roles in Pitch Perfect 2.

The original Pitch Perfect, which was never expected to be a hit, impressed critics and audiences alike, who turned out in droves for the female-driven comedy. Pitch Perfect 2, Elizabeth Banks‘ directorial debut, does not disappoint, returning to a formula of cutting quips, popular tunes and likable characters that results in another highly watchable movie. By making the sequel more of an ensemble feature, it also gives the original’s supporting characters more time to shine.

“Pitch Perfect 2 is just larger, in every sense, featuring more song-and-dance-numbers, more meandering subplots, more rapid-fire jokes and visual gags, and more out-of-left-field celebrity cameos, and it is both better and worse for its aca-xpansion…. When the Barden Bellas come out for their grand finale — to Beyoncé’s “Who Run the World? Girls,” of course — I almost welled up. Because unlike every other major franchise and sequel right now, girls actually do run this mother. And that’s an aca-complishment.” – Anna Silman, Salon

“Pitch Perfect 2 actually is more enjoyable than the original. First-time director Elizabeth Banks manages to move the story forward and wrap it up nicely without killing the concept. It blends a semisweet coming-of-age tale with the sincerity of a musical and some downright hilarity. Its flaws — flatulence jokes rarely work in any non-Mel Brooks setting — are swept away by an endearing story that simply, and effectively, refuses to take itself too seriously.” – Tony Hicks, San Jose Mercury News

“There are a half-dozen hilarious scenes, the Barden Bellas’ new nemesis is awesomely weird, and you could hardly find a more endearing group of college students played by 30-year-old actresses. … If guys avoid this movie because they think it’s icky girl stuff, they should reconsider: The main attraction isn’t the sisterhood but the zigzag wit of writer Kay Cannon, who has the same loopiness as the best Will Ferrell movies.” – Kyle Smith, New York Post

“Reprising the kind of musical performances, campus high jinks, stinging humor and sassy sisterhood on display in its eminently likeable predecessor, Pitch Perfect 2 remixes the elements and comes up with something even slicker and sharper. As the film’s Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) might say, they’ve crushed it. With nimble assists from all below-the-line departments, Banks, Cannon and the cast have crafted a sequel that’s edgier, sexier and, best of all, more female-centric than its predecessor. The film should also help put an end to that stupid old debate about whether women can be as funny as men.” – Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter

Pitch Perfect 2 is currently in wide release.