Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

The Barden Bellas are back for the second instalment of the popular series. And yes, the same cast have all returned (always a good sign with any sequel).

Beca (Anna Kendrick) is now a college senior, and she and her fellow Bellas - including Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), Chloe (Brittany Snow) and all your favourites from the first film - have three national titles under their belt.

However, at a special event celebrating the President’s birthday (and yes, Barack and Michelle Obama do feature in the scene), something goes terribly wrong, and as well as embarrassing themselves in front of the entire world, the Bellas are told they can no longer continue their ongoing national tour, and can not hold auditions for new members.

The Barden Bellas.

They can still, however, take their place at the World Championships (held once every four years), despite the fact that no one expects them to win, given that an American team have never won.

The favourites to take out the Worlds are Das Sound Machine from Germany, who have also taken over what was to have been the Bellas’ tour.

Beca - who is now dating Jesse (Skylar Astin) - has also started an internship at a recording studio, working for a very difficult boss (Keegan-Michael Key), which is taking precious time out of her commitments to the Bellas.

Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson).

Freshman Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) joins the Bellas this time around, taking advantage of a loophole that secures her a place because her mother (Katey Sagal) had been a Bella years ago while she was at college. Between the Bellas and being pursued by potential suitor and Treblemaker Benji (Ben Platt), she certainly has her hands full.

Kay Cannon’s screenplay is brilliant, echoing the tone and feel of the original (which she also wrote), and the characters are just as fun to watch as ever.

But it is of course the music that makes this film so special. All of the songs performed by not only the Bellas, but also the Treblemakers (the boys’ a capella group at Barden), Das Sound Machine, and many other a capella groups, are absolutely fantastic. The vocal harmonies are so tight, I had goosebumps watching the film, and the cast who perform them are so talented, not only as actors, but as singers and dancers as well.

John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks).

As with any film that features such an ensemble cast, it is difficult to name a standout performance. All the cast are fantastic in their respective roles, the majority of which are reprised from the original film, so they have been living these characters for a while now. However, a lot of the great comedic moments come from the banter between commentators John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks), and the majority of these moments were improvised, demonstrating the incredible talents of these two seasoned performers.

Director Elizabeth Banks has made a wonderfully enjoyable film here, suitable for the whole family, particularly if you enjoy music of any sort, predominantly vocal music of course. The film follows the original very well, and in some ways, this sequel is actually better than the original (and that’s not very common).

8 out of 10.