First Take: Pitch Perfect 3- a true ‘end of term’ film

SYNOPSIS: Following their win at the world championship, the
now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas
USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices.

Pitch Perfect is a franchise for which I’ve had a love/hate
relationship over the years- the original film in 2012 quite rightly became a
cult sensation, although the obligatory sequel disappointed me so much that I
gave it one of the most scathing reviews I’d written at the time. But now,
several years on, Pitch Perfect 3 ends the series as a neat little trilogy, and
I am delighted to report that it was a rather enjoyable 1 hour 33 minutes.

Trish Sie is the director at the helm of the ‘threequel’,
and my word she’s done a great job returning to the same comedic timing that
the original 2012 film utilised so well- and with Kay Cannon returning to
script duties alongside Mike White, the film passed the 6 laugh test easily,
although some of the narrative elements did feel a little stretched and forced.
It is shot really well by Matthew Clark,and Christopher Lennertz provides a
score that compliments the on-screen action perfectly.

The returning Bellas (including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson,
Hailee Steinfeld and Brittany Snow amongst others) are on form as ever, so are
Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins, but having big names like John
Lithgow pop up (alongside a weird cameo/lead role for DJ Khaled) was a shock-
but at the end of the day, with the dominance of Star Wars, this film will find
its audience eventually- something proven by the fact that I am watching a
sell-out screening be seated as I write this review.

THE VERDICT

Minor plot issues aside, Pitch Perfect 3 is a lot better
than the second one. I’m glad about that. It also happens to bring the curtain
down on 7 years of aca-awesomeness, and the way it does it is just so
brilliant. Sure, it’s divided some audience members, but at least it’s a decent film to end the year on.

RATING: 4/5