Movie: Pitch Perfect 3
My Rating: 3 stars
I really like these movies. I love singing. I love a well-choreographed dance number. I love Rebel Wilson and her raunchy humor. And, I really like that these movies don’t take themselves too seriously. Or, at least, they’ve gradually learned to take themselves less seriously as the franchise has progressed. (I think that’s kinda what happened with the Fast & Furious movies too). But, I really get into the spirit of these movies. While watching them, I usually to sink into the delusion that I can sing and dance too (which is not the case). But, that doesn’t stop me from trying to sing right along with the movie. I guess it’s a good thing that I usually watch these things at home.
You know what happens in these movies. There’s always some kind of acapella singing tournament. And, our girls have got to win for one arbitrary reason or another. Our team is always a bit awkward and inappropriate, but always charming. (I think I love these movies because I identify with this trait). Other groups are usually a bit snobby or conceited. Our girls teach them a lesson or two, but not without being humiliated in some very public way. We usually get a celebrity cameo or two. Last time it was Flula. This time it’s DJ Khaled. Fun is had by all. Everyone’s heart is warmed. They’re all the same. But, I kinda don’t care.
I always have a great time watching these movies. But after watching this third installment, I realized that I think I like the idea of these movies more than anything. The first one was new and exciting, so I forgave it for being a bit sentimental. I found the second movie to be completely hilarious. It was my favorite by far. And, I think this third movie stalled out a bit. The musical numbers were more elaborate than ever. But, it got back to a bit of the sappiness I didn’t like in the first film. And, a lot of the jokes felt a little played out. But, since I’m so committed to the franchise, I was going to see this one regardless of the quality. (You know what I mean, Fast & Furious). So, while I don’t think they’ll be making any more of these movies—this one wrapped up all the story lines pretty conclusively—if they were to ever get them started up again, I’d definitely be there. Because of the completely subjective nature of my enjoyment of these films, I’ll leave it to you to decide whether they’re for you or not. You’ve probably got a gut feeling leading you in one direction or the other. And, I’d trust that to guide you.