PITCH PERFECT 3 (2017)

Directed By: Trish Sie 
Written By: Kay Cannon & Mike White 
Story By: Kay Cannon 
Based On The Book By: Mickey Rapkin 
Cinematography By: Matthew Clark 
Editor: Craig Alpert & Colin Patton 


Cast: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, John Lithgow, Matt Lanter, Guy Burnet, DJ Khaled, Moises Arias, Ruby Rose, Trinidad James. 


After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I have been a fan of this franchise. As I loved the first film and with each sequel watched the quality diminish. The first clue that this film was going awry is the fact that they jettison all the former male co-stars.

Then the film proceeds with a storyline that makes no sense. That becomes more and more incoherent as the film goes along. That also has a film that was supposed to be an ensemble make one the clear star, who is then willing to share the stage. The. As to not feel Sorry for the other characters all their storylines not only get resolved but the hardships that were presented before were not as bad as they made them seem and quite successful. So this seems like it was all done for nothing except to make one a star.

Not to mention they are supposed to be the underdogs compared to the talent around them. Where as really the talent around them is only doing better as they have original songs. The female group they go up against isn’t my particular cup of tea. As they didn’t seem to really have a good story Bret on the first place.

The camerawork and editing is so fast it’s not like a music video but more like a commercial. Which the film seems like it is more like. Stitched together commercials. The reason I am guessing is to distract from the truly bad material.

While the movie does occasionally provide some laughs. There is only one truly memorable sequence. Which takes place when the girls accidentally destroy DJ Khaled’s private suite. Which is a well put together comedic set piece that is well timed. Other then that most of the film seems desperate with obvious and self referential jokes that Work only if you have seen the previous films. 

Also while Rebel Wilson is funny. Just as the script her jokes and humor here seem to get more and more desperate as she runs out of material for her character. As we have seen this character have no shake and gone through all of her emotions and situations. So here it just reeks of desperation. 

Which might be why Elizabeth Banks who co-stars in all of these films. As well as being a producer and directed the last sequel. Chooses to stay behind the scenes and co-star only. As maybe she knew this wasn’t quality but wanted to stay with the franchise.

This film won’t hurt anyone’s career but seems like a was it seems like it was only done to give a final chapter. As most franchises seem to need a trilogy. Even if not really needed. Maybe it just needed more time to mature and between films to come up with a worthwhile storyline. Though also maybe they were afraid of the characters getting too long in the tooth. Even as this is a franchise that could easily get rebooted eventually with a next generation. It just feels like this film is resting on it’s laurels and seems only to be made to make money with very little other motivation. Where as at least the second film lacked a strong story but had It’s moments, here it just feels like the material is spread thin and then just jumbled in with guest stars. Which barely makes any sense sort of like at the last few seasons of WILL & GRACE, where it seemed more like a variety show for the sheer number of guest stars and trying to work them into plot lines that got more and more outrageous. It's a shame as the cast is likeable and talented and very obviously willing and invested in their characters, but the script let’s them down and it just feels like a huge case of Déjà vu when it comes to their competition and performances. As the film makes it seem like this is a teen movie trying to act grown up.

The film also seems to try to distract from the quality of the film by continuously putting in action sequences and stylish flourishes that aren’t needed and increasingly silly.

I would say watch only if you are a completist. If not try to hold onto the happy memories of part 2. Which seems like a masterpiece compared to this film. Which as each film seems to kind of tackle the sa,me story at different times of the characters lives and development. So that each film is a different director tackling the material. As this is the third director to tackle the movie franchise.


Grade: D+