Movie review | ‘Pitch Perfect 2’? Far from it

Having missed the 2012 musically saturated surprise hit “Pitch Perfect,” some of the backstory and references were lost on me in “Pitch Perfect 2,” a new comedy featuring most of the cast from the original.

The ensemble cast of women, all supposedly college age, are led by the very funny Anna Kendrick as Beca Mitchell, and Rebel Wilson, who plays Fat Amy. Hailey Steinfeld is a newcomer to the Bellas, which is a fictional collegiate a cappella group. She plays the central, pivotal role of legacy Emily Junk.

Not quite a musical in the traditional sense, “Pitch Perfect 2” is loaded with song and dance as the Bellas attempt to win the world a cappella title. Interestingly, the franchise is loosely based on the non-fiction book “Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory.”

Highlights of the film include Snoop Dog playing against type, and Keegan Michael-Key as a stressed out hip-hip producer. Key is showing up in more films as his fame as Luther, Presidential Anger Translator, has made him a viral sensation, and a Comedy Central superstar.

Another very funny character in a not terribly funny movie is played by Fula Borg as Peter Kramer, the leader of Das Sound Machine, the Bellas’ arch nemesis. Borg rose to fame virally in his “Jennifer is a Party Pooper” monologue with nearly 7 million YouTube views (check it out.)

Adam Devine as Fat Amy’s love interest, Bumper, reprises his “Pitch Perfect” role essentially playing his “Workaholics” character. The always funny David Cross as a creepy underground a cappella fan bring some funny moments to screen. This pleasant enough comedy as a whole may be somewhat in tune, but it’s far from pitch perfect.　　

This story was originally published May 25, 2015 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Movie review | ‘Pitch Perfect 2’? Far from it."