They're BAAAACCCKKKKK! I was really looking forward to this movie. The original was very very good and it was quite the surprise. I remember not even being interested in the original until my college roommate forced me to watch it. I'm so glad he did because the movie was the funniest movie of that year and was a complete shock. Who knew that a movie making fun of a cappella could be so funny.
So that said, I was also worried. I'm not a big fan of comedy sequels and in general think they are a mistake. Too many times they just rehash the previous movie and make the gags/jokes more outlandish (See The Hangover 2 and 3). So I had the same worry about this movie.
As for the film itself I thought it was absolutely hilarious! I was laughing pretty much throughout the film. They didn't go with grotesque moments for cheap laughs which was a plus. The original did a few times and I never liked it. This movie was consistently funny and I honestly had a good time. Each character had their moment to shine and be funny. One of the best gags was the appearance of the Green Bay Packers and Clay Matthews singing in a a cappella duel. It was great. Once again Anna Kendrick was absolutely wonderful and really funny and engaging. Rebel Wilson also shines and was featured more than before. For the most part that is a good thing, but I wish they would have done more than sex and fat jokes with her. She can do way more.
Yes this movie was funny and a good time, but there were still some serious problems with it. One of my biggest problems with this film was the story. Even with the original being funny, its story was simple, made sense, and drove the movie forward. The odd group of girls came together to achieve a unified goal. This film seemed devoid of that unity. They get banned from the competition for something stupid, but have this odd loophole where they could regain their position if they win the world championship, which no American team had ever won before. If this had been the only motivation in the movie, that would have been great. Show the girls working together to accomplish this goal with shenanigans ensuing. But instead they added so much more. They introduced a rival group to add tension and another obstacle for the girls. First off this group wasn't funny. They were more annoying than good/entertaining/funny/ or useful. They felt more like a distraction. Another side story that was added that didn't feel authentic was the love story between Bumper and Amy. It didn't feel real and took screen time away for more important moments. I felt it was a waste of time an a distraction.
The addition of Hailee Steinfeld as Emily was welcome to add new blood to the group, but her meandering story-line and pointless love interest was distracting. She was funny as a wide-eyed newbee, which should have been her main role, and I loved how she was involved in helping Becca succeed at her new job. The love story distracted from her role in the group and was pointless. Plus it took significant screen time away from the relationship that had been built in the first movie between Becca and Jesse.
This series' main character and entry point for the audience is Becca played by Anna Kendrick. Just like the first movie, she has a side story along with the main plot. This should have been the only side plot in the movie. I really like it. Her story of trying to make it in the music industry was great. It was the perfect continuation of her story. Her interactions at the office were some of the best scenes and her boss was hysterical. Perfect writing and casting. My problem with Becca's storyline in this movie sat with the continuation of her relationship with Jesse. He appeared but didn't play a significant role at all. This movie was about the girls and it needed to be, but Jesse's use in this movie was a waste. If they are going to take the time to put him in the movie, they should have used him. It would have been better if he just wasn't in the movie at all and they wrote him off some how. All the other nonsense plot lines took valuable time away from the Becca/Jesse relationship which the audience actually cared about. Looking at this movie though, Jesse just shouldn't have been in the movie. Becca's story needed to be about her succeeding as a music producer, which it was. Jesse played no role and shouldn't have been around. I also wish they would have explored the conflict between Becca's career goals and her goals as a Bella more. They touched on it, but they could have made it more powerful and given the group a stronger reaction to it. I thought the problem was solved too simply. It needed more juice.
Overall, I thought the movie's plot was spotty and not connected well. Some parts were redeeming, but it felt disjointed with parts that didn't really need to be there. The film was packed with jokes, so it seems that the writers were more focused on putting in more jokes than streamlining the plot. Too many subplots can damage a movies flow, and I am a strong believer in simpler is better. This film needed a simpler plot. But it was really funny. I thought every joke was executed with precision and hit. I was laughing a ton and honestly had a good time at the movies. This movie was fun, and that is honestly all one should expect from a comedy, especially a comedy sequel. I really enjoyed myself. This is one of those movies which reminds you how much fun going to a movie can be. It doesn't matter if the plot is confusing or even non existent. A fun, funny, intelligent film can be just what you need to relax and have a great time. I would give this movie a solid 6/10. I have seen better, but I definitely have seen much much worse. This was the perfect summer comedy with a killer cast.
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