Pitch Perfect 3

It’s hard to believe that a little film about acapella singers in college turned into a worldwide franchise. Pitch Perfect 3looks to be the final film of the franchise (although if it makes enough money, who knows?), but it doesn’t give the send-off to the famed Barden Bellas that they deserve.

Pitch Perfect 3 follows the Barden Bella’s group members after college as they struggle in the workforce. After meeting up again at a reunion they decide to play for the USO in Europe where the famed DJ Khaled will pick a band to open for his show from the many performing for the troops.

The film at first follows with the momentum and formula of the previous Pitch Perfect films, by having riff-offs against other bands and going off the great chemistry from the cast; Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is used to great comic effect again. If you’re coming into this film hoping for more of the same then you’ll be pleased awhile, and the film would have worked out fine if it had simply rehashed the successes of previous films; unfortunately, it took a different route.

Fat Amy’s character has frequently been a highlight in the Pitch Perfect films, with Rebel Wilson rollicking in her expert improv. However, the filmmakers decided to give Amy a subplot involving a reunion with her mobster father (played by John Lithgow), and this silly story strand slowly takes over the entire finale, leading to a non-sensical spy sequence on a yacht.

So in retrospect the Pitch Perfect films have been downgrading their appeal and quality with each installment, thankfully the talented cast have enough fun onscreen that it somewhat rubs off into the audience in this third, but forgetful, outing.

6.0/10