The Barden Bellas have graduated and moved out of their dorms, and on with their lives—away from Barden University, away from their stewardess-chic aca-uniforms, and away from each other. For most of them, though, post-college life has not been all that peachy-keen. Pitch Perfect 3 opens with Beca (Anna Kendrick) in her apparent dream job as a music producer, though we quickly find out she loathes it—and for good reason. Just as Beca’s career implodes, Chloe (Brittany Snow)—an OG Barden Bella also hitting rock bottom—demands that they, along with Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), attend the Barden Bellas a cappella reunion that evening.
When the Barden Bellas reunion doesn’t go so well, Aubrey comes up with an idea: Why don’t they all go perform for the troops and their families at the USO? Her dad’s in the military, she reminds them, and he can hook them up. A quick montage later and the Bellas (minus Stacie, who’s giving birth—and plus Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), the youngest Bella) are embarking on a four-city tour of Europe.
Following the Bellas to Europe are Gail (Elizabeth Banks) and John (John Michael Higgins), the aca-commentators who report and rule on the a cappella competitions in both the original, Pitch Perfect (2012), and the sequel, Pitch Perfect 2 (2015). We now learn that Gail and John are making a documentary based on the Barden Bellas. Logistically, this seems to be the only way the writers could fit Banks and Higgins into the film. It’s a shame, too, because their original presence at the onset of the trilogy was intelligent, raucously funny, and a real “behind-the-scenes” necessity.
While Gail and John are perhaps two of the most delightful characters in the first film, they’re the most exasperating and unnecessary in the third. Overtly misogynistic, John’s verbal observations are clearly a punchline at how men in authoritative positions get off speaking about women doing “a man’s job.” Even though this shtick played well the original Pitch Perfect, it becomes increasingly trite by the end of the third installment. Banks deserves better than the lines she’s given.
While Pitch Perfect 3 is sprinkled with bit roles played by familiar faces (e.g., Ruby Rose and Guy Burnet) giving decent performances, it’s missing a few faces which could have done wonders (Bumper, played by Adam Devine; Jesse, played by Skylar Astin; and Benji, played by Ben Platt for example). There are some new male additions, though—perhaps the most random are DJ Khaled (playing himself, as the headliner of the USO tour) and John Lithgow (playing Fat Amy’s father, an Australian racketeer). Khaled’s lines are as minimal as they are awkwardly acted. Lithgow, on the other hand, plays a shockingly convincing down-in-the-dumps gangster—it’s weirdly random, but it works given the overall silly, spoofy vibe of the movie.
Anna Kendrick and the rest of the cast from “Pitch Perfect 3.” Photo by Quantrell D. Colbert – © Universal Pictures.
Happily, some things carry over from film to film. The riff-offs make a comeback, though this time they’re riddled with a variety of hip-hop, grunge, and bluegrass bands who all come armed with instruments—intimidating the Bellas into wondering whether they, too, should consider musical back-up. And while Beca plays the lead with some powerhouse solos, Ester Dean (superbly playing by the hilarious and hard-hitting Cynthia Rose), Hana Mae Lee, and Chrissie Fit fortunately squeaked in a bit more screen time this go around. Pitch Perfect 3 is also fully stocked with supportive, charismatic girl power, oozing out of every orifice and vocal cord. It’s evident that the cast enjoys making movies together, which translates to the audience enjoying said movie, despite some of the inauthentic, bumbling scenes we’re forced to cringe through.
The end of the franchise is just barely an hour and a half, which is all the Bellas really need to say goodbye. It’s been a fun ride. Viewers will continue to covet the Bellas’ friendship, as well as their individual wardrobes and group choreography from all three films. The music, of course, has always been on point. Pitch Perfect 3 did its job: it made me smile, but for once, it didn’t leave me wanting more. We’ll miss you, Pitches, but it’s time to put the encore to rest.
Mandi Ruffner