Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)

Directed by: Trish Sie | 93 minutes | comedy, music, action | Actors: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hailee Steinfeld, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Chrissie Fit, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, John Lithgow, Matt Lanter, Guy Burnet, Alexis Knapp, DJ Khaled, Troy Ian Hall, Michael Rose, Jessica Chaffin, Moises Arias, Derek Mehn, Ruby Rose, Andy Allo, Venzella Joy, Hannah Fairlight

After winning the World Cup a cappella in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’, the Bellas have since graduated and have gone their separate ways. Like so many twenty-somethings with starting problems, it is not easy for the ladies either. Beca has found her dream job, but can’t be herself there, Chloe and Cynthia Rose have their doubts about the chosen follow-up study and Fat Amy tries in vain to conquer Broadway with her one-woman show Fat Amy Winehouse. On the day that Beca quits her job as a music producer, it turns out that some sort of reunion is planned. The Bellas have been invited by Emily (who is still a student at Barden University and has gathered a younger generation of Bellas around her) to sing. That night, a plan is formed as to how the Bellas should move forward with their future.

‘Pitch Perfect 3’ – directed by Trish Sie (known for the fantastic video for OK Go, Here It Goes Again, the one with the treadmills) – doesn’t look like much at first glance, but the screenwriters have a lot of imagination anyway. to come up with a conclusive story. Of course the Bellas again face all kinds of challenges and their issues cause tensions not only on a personal level but also within the group.

We learn more about Fat Amy’s background in this film and Chloe also comes out a little better here. Beca has to make a choice as to what characters like her will stand for in similar films (do you choose for yourself or for the group?) and in that sense ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ is not surprising. The standard riff off should not be missing either, but because a large part of the film takes place during the USO Tour, they are the only a cappella group, and they compete against bands that use instruments. The competition plays a much less important role here than in part 2 and that’s a good thing, because those other bands aren’t really special.

Much nicer is the addition of John Lithgow to the cast, who appears to have a special bond with one of the Bellas. Due to the introduction of his character to the story, ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ can be described as an action comedy and that is a welcome change. If you enjoyed the first parts of ‘Pitch Perfect’, you will undoubtedly enjoy the third part. The songs are less spectacular than in the previous films, but still enjoyable for the a cappella lover. And not unimportant: you will find out what actually happened to the mysterious Lilly. And that is allowed under the heading ‘we didn’t see that coming!’.