Aca-about time! Three years after ‘Pitch Perfect’, the first ladies of a cappella are back – and they’re hitting the high notes. This sequel opens as all-girl group the Bellas are branded a national disgrace after a vagina-flashing incident involving Barack Obama. The girls are singing to the President in front of a crowd of thousands when Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson, genius) has a wardrobe malfunction, revealing her lady parts live on television. The TV news coverage is hilarious (‘the FBI has ruled out terrorism’). President Nixon had Watergate. This is Muffgate.
Nothing in the rest of the film comes remotely close to being as funny. Minutes pass without a big laugh, and there’s definitely one song too many. But ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ has its ‘Spinal Tap’ moments. The only way the Bellas can redeem their reputation is to win at the a cappella world championships in Holland – an event that’s like Glastonbury for nerds. Standing in their way is the techno-fierce black-leather clad German group Das Sound Machine (or Deutsche Bags, as the Bellas call them).
‘Pitch Perfect 2’ is totally goofy but very sweet. And there’s a decent side-plot as Becca (the alt-girl with too much eyeliner played by the awesome Anna Kendrick) heads off to intern with a hotshot producer working on a Christmas album with Snoop Dogg. As with the first film, you’ll be dying to switch on your phone to save the instantly quotable gems (‘What did you say? I don’t speak loser’). And once again, Rebel Wilson – a woman who could make a George Osborne speech funny – is the coolest woman in the room.