Pitch Perfect 2
Movie review with Lauren Teruya
Where and with whom did you see the movie?
I watched the movie at Kahala Consolidated Theatres with my sister Kathryn Teruya.
Overall, what did you think?
Pitch Perfect 2 provided me with an evening of entertainment along with nonstop laughter. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the a cappella renditions of top hits from all genres along with the addition of so many hilarious scenes that made me thankful that I didn’t buy the extra-large fruit punch at the concession stand.
Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes?
My favorite scene would have to be during the time the Bellas go to a mysterious household to have what appears to be another “Riff Off.” Much like the first movie, a bunch of a cappella groups showdown in a very spontaneous and exciting way. This is also the point at which I was able to hear a lot of the different songs along with a large diversity of tones, depending on which group was singing.
On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film?
I would rate this movie ★★★. I had a wonderful time, and it hit the spot in terms of what I look for in a movie night. Despite its overall feel, however, I felt like there were a few unnecessary remarks that came off more as forced jokes rather than smooth-flowing comedy. Also, there were a lot of comments making fun of many hot-topic contemporary issues, and I found them to have ultimately no contribution to the overall plot.
What did you think of the cinematography?
Overall, I thought that the motion picture was very nicely displayed. With the addition of numerous clear shots focusing on the correct vantage points from the highlighted character, it was easy to understand what the director wanted to be the main focus. There were a lot of cuts made, and scenes didn’t really follow in one take, but that seems to be the trend with most modern-day movies.
Did it remind you of any other works of film?
It reminded me of Pitch Perfect. That counts, right?
Was the message/theme clear?
This movie had a very distinct theme of friendship/sisterhood. Simply put, the girls had to be honest with one another in order to achieve their individual, as well as group, goals. Also, by means of crude, in-your-face humor, feminism also was proven to be a large theme that was a targeted source of a lot of the comedy.
Did any of the actors stand out?
I loved Anna Kendrick (Beca) just because she has such a natural and unforced way about herself on the screen, and I couldn’t possibly ignore the talent of Rebel Wilson (Fat Amy), whose large personality and over-the-top sense of humor adds an entire dimension to the overall production. All the Bellas, in my opinion, are very well cast because they’re all so different and they represent (in a very comical way) the diversity of women throughout the world.
Did you identify with any of the characters?
I feel like I most identified myself with Beca because she suffers some internal conflict on where she should be prioritizing her efforts as a senior in college about to go out into the “real world.” Although I am still a sophomore at ‘Iolani, I often do worry about the next chapter and what I should be doing in order to prepare myself for what’s ahead.
On a different note, what’s new with you?
You can probably catch me performing at Hilton Hawaiian Village with local band Dukes of Surf, or rehearsing with the cast of Honu by the Sea. As a professional actress and model, I continue to have a busy schedule with various productions and jobs
