Pitch Perfect 2 is the high energy sequel to 2012’s Pitch Perfect, a film that actually became more popular after its theatrical run ended. Elizabeth Banks, who was a producer and actor in both films, also wears the director’s hat this time around for Pitch Perfect 2. As a first-time director, she gives the audience even more of what made the first film so well-received: good a cappella music and wacky humor.
Pitch Perfect 2‘s main storyline sees the Barden Bellas once again vying to win an a cappella competition. In the first film it was the National Championship, but in this film it’s the International Championship. As you might expect from a sequel, much of the same drama that was part of the first film is here once again, but this time around of course the stakes are higher. Soon after the film begins, the Bellas find that their very existence as a team is being threatened. The International Championship is now their last chance to earn redemption and save their storied program from being shut down.
There is also a secondary plot which centers more closely on the personal growth of Anna Kendrick’s character Becca. The first Pitch Perfect film establishes that Becca wants to be a music producer and is very talented at creating mashups of other people’s songs. Becca arranges all of the music for the Bellas’ routines by infusing them with a heavy dose of mashups. This is one of the things which differentiates them from other a cappella groups. Becca’s talent at producing these mashups continues to shine in Pitch Perfect 2. There were some great mashups, including some unexpected ones (like the surprisingly catchy Anna Kendrick/Snoop Dogg Christmas melody mashup – I didn’t see that one coming).
In this sequel, Becca is challenged to produce an original sound rather than to simply continue mixing already existing material. Becca’s struggle to find her own artistic voice ends up mirroring the Bellas’ struggle to rediscover their voice while journeying towards the International Championship. In fact, the original song “Flashlight” is one of the catchiest in the film. This isn’t surprising considering that it was co-written by the talented singer/songwriters Sam Smith and Sia.
Pitch Perfect 2 asks some provoking questions about artistic originality and creativity in the midst of all its zaniness. Is creating a mash-up like one of Becca’s creations any less artistically creative than creating an original composition out of nothing? One of the film’s craziest moments is an impromptu underground a cappella battle filled with hilarious performances, including one by the Green Bay Packers (yes, you read that sentence correctly). The crowd jeers one singer (newcomer to the series Hailee Steinfeld) because she dares to sing an original composition rather than a cover.
This debate over the nature of artistic creation also mirrors the debate over the nature of the world’s creation. Many early Christians believed that God created the world by bringing order to the chaos of pre-existent matter. Most Christians now hold that God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing). Therefore, when we create things as humans, are we creating ex nihilo or are we bringing order to the chaos of pre-existing material? Does one method more closely imitate God’s creative process? I suppose that depends on how you view the ex nihilo debate.
Pitch Perfect 2 teases the notion that originality can sometimes be “better” while still showing how awesome covers can sound – especially when they are sung a cappella. I see artistic creativity in both types of expression, and I appreciated the way in which Pitch Perfect 2 gives attention to both, especially in its finale.
I would be remiss if I didn’t address the many prejudiced and racist jokes in Pitch Perfect 2. Let me be clear: there are a lot of these jokes. There were jokes directed at Hispanics, Asians, Blacks, women, men, LGBTQ’s, overweight people, and more. Eventually I got the sense that the filmmakers were probably making an attempt at satire because of the sheer number of these kind of jokes, but most of them fell flat and were not well received by my theater’s audience. The fact that no one in a crowded, diverse Los Angeles theater was laughing suggests to me that these jokes were unnecessary.
This is disappointing, because I really enjoyed the rest of Pitch Perfect 2. Many of the film’s best moments had me laughing out loud or nodding my head to the music. Sadly, however, many potentially impactful messages in the film are diminished because of the use of prejudicial humor. One such message is the use of Beyonce’s song “Run the World (Girls)” as a feminist anthem. It could have been one of the film’s defining moments, but its impact is diminished by the film’s many jokes debasing women. Overall, I enjoyed Pitch Perfect 2. Its music was very catchy, and the story had a satisfying conclusion. I just wish it would have arrived there without any of the crude humor.
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