Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and the gang are back and on song as the plucky a capella group the Barden Bellas in the sequel to 2012’s Pitch Perfect.

Things have been going well for the Bellas until Wilson’s Fat Amy suffers a major (and crudely funny) wardrobe malfunction in front of Barack Obama that sees the group threatened with extinction unless they can manage to win the world championships in Copenhagen.

There’s just one problem, as explained by Elizabeth Banks’ a cappella official: “No American has ever won. They hate us. The whole world hates us.”


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Banks also steps behind the camera to direct her first big feature, balancing the mix of comedy, drama and big musical numbers admirably.

Sure, the plot is pretty much by numbers and there are moments that are so sickly sweet you will be

ringing your dentist - I’m thinking of the campfire confessional and a lot of the ‘moving on nonsense’ but for the most part winning performances and healthy dose of snarky humour make it palatable.

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A rousing finale is hard not to love, too.

Pitch Perfect 2 is just like the roster of pop songs it features: colourful, fun, a little bit cheeky and easily consumable, but lacking a little in substance.

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Pitch Perfect 2 is out May 15.