Entertainment

Film Review: Pitch Perfect 3

still photo from pitch perfect three

What you expect with Pitch Perfect 3, you definitely get, with this ridiculous comedy following in similar footsteps to the first two films with outrageous characters, ridiculous humour and catchy use of pop songs

Last call Pitches to reconnect with the lives of our favourite emotionally-unstable yet incredibly talented female a capella group, The Barden Bellas, as they find themselves split apart and struggling in the world of adulthood.

Following the group’s win at the world championship in Pitch Perfect 2, the girls now find themselves in full-time jobs in the real world, either dealing with wanna-be rappers with terrible taste in music, days filled with privileged, snobby customers, or with their hand (and arm) up a cow’s a** in an attempt to get into veterinary school.

With the opportunity to forget their adulthood woes and go back to their college glory, the Bella’s reunite for one last singing competition as part of an overseas USO tour, with the winner opening for DJ Khaled. The group, though, find themselves up against groups with both great voices and musical instruments, and the competition becomes that much harder (as well as creating some great mixed group musical numbers).

Alongside the USO tour competition are an array of side plots, including the introduction of Fat Amy’s father, a man who was never there for her growing up, but now wants to be a part of his daughter’s life with bizarre and outrageous consequences for all the Bellas.

The film franchise’s well-known humour is not left out of its third instalment, with plenty of Kendrick’s sarcastic and witty comments and Wilson’s ridiculous one-liners to keep the audience in satisfied fits of giggles. There is, though, a humour that most American, and other foreign audiences, probably wouldn’t understand. Playing Wilson’s on-screen Australian father is American acting legend, John Lithgow, with one of the most ridiculously stereotyped ‘Aussie’ accents that has probably ever been on the big screen (yes, even more exaggerated than in Australia). Every time Lithgow opens his mouth it’s hard to keep a straight face as, according to American movie makers, a very wealthy Australian multi-millionaire who wears expensive white suits and owns giant yachts spends his time speaking like he fell straight out of Crocodile Dundee (the word ‘drongo’ comes to mind).

The actors provide the same performances, consistent to those in previous films. Anna Kendrick is her same sassy self, full of quick wit and the dry sense of humour we’ve come to love from Beca. Rebel Wilson is, and will always be, Fat Amy (also known as Patricia) and never fails to bring her character’s dirty mind and up-front attitude to attention. Brittany Snow and Anna Champ are still the somewhat uptight and rigid Bella’s, Chloe and Aubrey, that we met all the way back in 2012. Hailee Steinfeld, though, who was introduced as a new Bella in Pitch Perfect 2, feels almost out of place with her humour not quite finding cohesion in the new film among the other characters.

Despite the happiness in having another Australian star alongside our beloved comedy hotshot, Rebel Wilson, Ruby Rose was an odd choice for the film, and it seems that the franchise merely wanted to cash in on her current fame on the Hollywood circuit. Playing the lead singer and guitar player of a competing band, Rose appears awkward in her scenes on stage, lacking the charisma and comfort that the front man (or woman) of a kick-ass band would have, leading her role to be underwhelming and somewhat unbelievable.

What you expect with Pitch Perfect 3, you definitely get, with this ridiculous comedy following in similar footsteps to the first two films with outrageous characters, ridiculous humour and catchy use of pop songs. Though it definitely does not measure up to the quality and pure genius of the first film, it is a nice addition within the franchise. If you’re a fan of the Bellas, you’ll probably be a fan of this.

Pitch Perfect 3 opens New Year’s Day.

Check out the official site here.

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