‘Pitch Perfect 3’ is cheesy and predictable, but is a fun way to close out the trilogy
The Bellas are all grown up and sadly facing the tedious realities of “adulting”. So, when the opportunity to join a USO world tour falls into their laps, they happily run off to experience the joy of performing as an a cappella group once again. Pitch Perfect 3, opening December 22, 2017, is the latest chapter in this lighthearted franchise and it should probably be the last as well.
While high school girls across the country may hate the thought of that, it’s time for Anna Kendrick (Becca) and Rebel Wilson (Fat Amy) to move on and explore other avenues. Even High School Musical realized that rounding out a trilogy was sufficient and that the characters/actors needed to move along.
As a standalone film, PP3 is a little cheesy, somewhat predictable, but a lot of fun. There are fun mixes of a variety of songs that keep you tapping your foot and just enough jokes and situations to let Rebel Wilson be entertaining without reaching a ridiculous level of annoyance. John Lithgow joins the cast as Fat Amy’s crooked father (with a very odd Australian accent) who wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter. This leads to unexpected action and adventure and Fat Amy revealing her secret Jedi fighting skills and a Cayman bank account that King Midas would envy. So, while Becca is predictably struggling with advancing her musical career by separating from the group a la Beyonce style, Amy steals the movie with her side story’s action sequences.
PP3 is not the best option for taking the entire family for a night out to see the film at full price, but it’s not a bad option for a weekend matinee choice during the holiday season where you may be entertaining a more eclectic group. The small dose of innuendo is delivered so quickly and infrequently that it remains comical without being uncomfortable while the European settings add a bit of international eye candy for more mature audience members (who will probably be the only ones to even notice them). Best of all, there’s no “cup song” this time for everyone to try to imitate later.
Pitch Perfect earns 2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Debbie Sage
Website: http://www.pitchperfectmovie.
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, John Lithgow, DJ Khaled, Hana Mae Lee, Ruby Rose, Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Ester Dean, Shelley Regner, Kelley Jakle with John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks
Directed by: Trish Sie
Screenplay by: Kay Cannon and Mike White | Story by: Kay Cannon and Craig Mazin
Based on the Book by: Mickey Rapkin
Produced by: Paul Brooks, Max Handelman, Elizabeth Banks
Executive Producers: Jason Moore, Scott Niemeyer, David Nicksay
Full Synopsis: Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office.
After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.
Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins all return and are joined by additions including John Lithgow and Ruby Rose. Pitch Perfect 3 is again produced by Paul Brooks of Gold Circle Entertainment and Max Handelman & Elizabeth Banks of Brownstone Productions, and is directed by Trish Sie (Step Up All In).
