Pitch Perfect 3

I'm not to ashamed to admit that I'm a big fan of the Pitch Perfect series. 

To be honest, I think most everyone is to some degree unless A) it's really just not their thing or B) they're a dude who's afraid to admit it. 

Both of the first films (HERE and HERE 2) are absolute delights with a fun, zany cast that has quickly become family, some awesome and memorable performances, and more than a handful of hilarious gags and one-liners. Over the course of two, well-crafted films -- both of which act like small scale coming-of-age comedies -- Pitch Perfect has given us a lot to love. 

So it's unfortunate then that the third film was made with the obvious intent to make money (which it's doing very well considering its battling Star Wars) with little effort to making it special and worth your money like the other two.

It reminds me a lot of the Hangover series. It features two films, arguably close in quality (I'm one of those people who thinks Part II is only slightly less funny than the first), but then a third film that was such a significant dip in quality, storytelling, and just flat out ability to make sense that you walk out of the theater asking, "What the f**k happened?!". Granted it's not as bad as Part III ended up being -- also, don't trust my 7/10 review for that one...I'm not sure what I was thinking -- but Pitch Perfect 3 still feels different enough from its predecessors in a bad way that it will leave a bad taste in your mouth. 

For a film series that I've come to really enjoy and one that features two highly re-watchable installments, that's a big bummer. 

They still got the looks!

Pitch Perfect 3 isn't all bad news though. Despite feeling like it's a B-grade version of what we've previously gotten, all the original talent is still there and the cast is truly what saves the film. Pretty much everyone is back and you can tell that these girls have bonded over the years into a strong group on and off screen. It's endearing and their chemistry adds a lot where a new set of girls may have fallen completely flat. The story comes full circle for Becca as she's the central figure here again -- almost completely throwing away the proverbial passing of the torch to Hailee Steinfeld's character, but like whatever! -- and I still to enjoy watching Kendrick in this sassy, but funny role. Fat Amy (Wilson) has a plethora of forced jokes this time around and it's clear the writing for the character is trying to recapture former glory. Rebel Wilson has her own brand of humor and brings laughs mostly when she's ad-libbing, but I'd be lying if there weren't an awkward amount of jokes that fell flat in my nearly-full theater. Again, where the first films felt genuine, this film feels like it's just trying to make a quick buck while these girls/this genre are still relevant. 

Sadly, the final and most forgettable performance for the Bellas

Most of the musical numbers are great, but honestly feel a little quiet compared to what you'd expect. The film's loudest, most complete musical numbers come when instruments are being played from other bands, but even during the hippest of acapella tracks, the film lacks the same energy. It's weird that they would allow these instrumental segments of non-Bella entertainers to basically cannibalize the wonderful performances that they have, but outside of a handful of fun instances the Bella's feel...well...a tad boring. And whereas each of the previous films has ended on arguably the movies' best performances, the final one here is so forgettable and average that I was thinking there would be an encore to really wrap things up. Nope.

If this is really it for the Bellas,
then it's a sad salute indeed

Even the story seems like an afterthought of "Well, s**t. We graduated all these girls from college...how do we get them back together?" Once more I'm shocked they didn't go near some route of the torch being passed but regardless, a traveling USO roadshow isn't the worst idea, but it all feels low stakes. One of the things PP2 did so well was making it known that they were going to the "big time" for the World Championships. And that the German team, hilarious as they were, were a force to be reckoned with. This time we get a moody Ruby Rose and handful of other throw-away competitors along with a forced/extended DJ Khaled cameo that results in a satisfying conclusion, sure, but not really an exciting one. Throw in a completely insane subplot about Fat Amy's dad and you nearly have the undoing of the entire franchise because it's so off the rails and not nearly as funny as it thinks it is. Though it does give us probably the best musical number...so there's that. 

I'm clearly being really rough on Pitch Perfect 3 because I'm disappointed. It's a series that deserves better because I think it earned its right, against all odds, to be a "blockbuster" event. Pitch Perfect 3 is a fine, but forgettable effort that comes across as a get-rich-quick scheme using pieces that have previously worked together and slapping something together. It may not be awful but it's cheap, poorly conceived, and unfair to fans who wanted, and deserved, more of the high-quality Bellas we're used to getting. 

CONS

• Feels like a cash grab
• Fairly useless plot that feels of lower stakes and importance comparitively
• The Fat Amy's father subplot is so dumb and goes so far off the rails it nearly takes the entire franchise down with it
• Awkwardly low-key musical numbers where the acapella sections lack energy when compared to the instrument-filled competitors. Such an odd creative decision
• Utterly forgettable end song 
• Tons of jokes that fall flat and Fat Amy's script in particular feels forced

PROS

• This cast is still dynamite and they deserve better. They make the best of what they can here and it's still fun to see that they're having fun
• Some of the musical numbers are great. Britney Spears' "Toxic" was my highlight, even if it comes during the worst part of the film
• There were a few moments of genuine laughter. Always during moments that felt genuine

Rath's Review Score | 5.5/10