Pitch Perfect 3

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Elizabeth Banks, Hailee Steinfeld, John Michael Higgins, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Kelly Jakle, John Lithgow, Alexis Knapp, DJ Khaled, Ruby Rose
Directed by: Trish Sie
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Music
2018

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The Bellas reunite for a USO Tour.

Review:

Tim: After two solid films, Pitch Perfect 3 is where it all falls apart. A lot of this is due to the weakest screenplay of the trilogy, but so much blame has to be lobbed on director Trish Sie. You see the jobs that directors Jason Moore and Elizabeth Banks did with the first two films and you realize Sie just didn't have the talent (or admittedly, the script) to pull this movie off. This film ends the trilogy on a low note and certainly suggests there shouldn't be any more of these movies.

These films have always been about the enjoyment of seeing the Bellas together and their humorous interactions. The stories have always been secondary, more of an excuse for the characters to interact. And, that has mostly worked for the franchise. However, story is still important and the first two were at least believable and somewhat logical. The story here is just absurd. The Bellas go on a USO Tour, which isn't a bad idea by itself (what other directions could the third film have gone in?). However, of course there's a competition and of course the Bellas seem outclassed. That felt redundant to the first couple of films, which did hurt this one. However, there are these bizarre subplots that provide some differentiation but never fully work. Those are the things that really sink the movie. The whole DJ Khaled subplot felt desperate, rather than anything else. Beca's arc in this film felt flat and uninteresting. The worst subplot has to be that Fat Amy's father is an international crime kingpin. Seriously? This doesn't just feel desperate, it reeks of desperation. This is really the "jumping the shark" moment, and the subsequent kidnapping, battle, and explosions just come across as pathetic. This film has always placed the comedy at the forefront, so you obviously need to take these sequences as tongue-in-cheek, but they don't work within the larger context of the film. It's asking too much of the audience to go to this place. That was one of the biggest issues I have with this subpart film.

I actually feel bad this movie is so lackluster because I genuinely like most of the cast. I'm a big Anna Kendrick fan. She's good as Beca, but the script was so weak that it doesn't do her any favors. Rebel Wilson continues to supply her comedic supporting work, which is really effective. Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, and Hailee Steinfeld continue to do work with these roles. Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins are always so good together, so it was fun seeing them again. I do need to especially call out John Lithgow, because he's a terrific actor and gives a legitimately strong performance here. Unfortunately, as Fat Amy's dad, he is part of the weakest aspect of this film. I really don't blame Lithgow at all- he showed up and gave a strong performance. His character and that subplot were so bad that it didn't really matter, unfortunately.

Now, one quick note- I'm not suggesting Pitch Perfect 3 is a trainwreck. It's a perfectly fine but forgettable movie. The first two felt better than expected, though- there was something special about them. While this movie absolutely has its entertaining moments, that special feeling is gone. That's why I'm focusing so much on the negatives for an otherwise okay film.

This franchise has always been surprising. No one expected the first film to be as entertaining and memorable as it was. The second one blew up and far surpassed the first at the box office (nearly tripling the returns of the first one). This one was surprisingly ineffective, which also resulted in over $80 million less than the second film. Pitch Perfect 3 is okay, but it's easily the worst film in the trilogy.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2