Film review: Pitch Perfect 2 (12A, 115 mins)

Lightning almost strikes twice in the eagerly anticipated sequel to the feel-great comedy Pitch Perfect.

Actress Elizabeth Banks nestles in the director’s chair for this uproarious second outing and she confidently conducts a choir of familiar faces through soaring musical mash-ups and pitch-slapping put-downs.

Screenwriter Kay Cannon, who penned the original, enforces the message of femme power by contriving a spectacular fall from grace for the Barden Bellas in order that her plucky heroines rediscover their sisterly solidarity.

Beyonce’s anthemic “Run The World (Girls)” is a fitting opener for one medley of redemption, emphasising that while these girls wanna have fun, they won’t do so at the expense of friendships or their careers.

Cannon pads out her admittedly flimsy premise with parallel romantic subplots and introduces a Latin American exchange student, whose life-or-death heritage becomes a running joke that limps before the two hours are up.

Musical sequences are choreographed with verve, including a rousing finale that astutely goes back to acca-basics to tug the heartstrings.

Comedy/Musical/Romance

Star rating: 7/10