- Actors: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp
- Director: Trish Sie
- Writers: Kay Cannon, Mike White
- Producers: Elizabeth Banks, Paul Brooks, Max Handelman
- Disc Format: 4K, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (DTS 5.1)
- Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
- Region: Region A/1
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Rated: PG-13
- Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
- Release Date: March 20, 2018
- Run Time: 93 minutes
With the first two
Pitch Perfect films being about a
college acapella group, Pitch Perfect 3
is forced to reinvent the franchise somewhat since the characters have since
graduated. But rather than simply coming up with an excuse to give the Bellas to
perform again, the latest sequel of the musical franchise blends a whole new
genre into the mix. While there are still several of the expected instrument-free
performances of popular new pop songs, there is also a spy film subplot that ends
up taking precedence over any final performance competition.
After winning at
the Acapella World Championship during their final year in college, Beca (Anna
Kendrick) and the rest of the Bellas a underwhelmed by their lives. Each of
their college relationships have ended and their career aspirations are not all
panning out the way they had hoped, leaving them longing for their glory days
as acapella performers. When an opportunity comes along for them to reunite on
a European USO tour, the Bellas set their worries aside and try to recapture
their old magic.
While the bonds
of the female friendships in the film are much the same, including the humorous
buddy elements brought to the film by the banter between Beca and Fat Amy
(Rebel Wilson), the replacement of the franchise’s male characters is unfortunately
apparent. Even with new love interests shoe-horned into the plot, the new men provide
little other than eye candy. One exception is DJ Khaled, who appears as himself
and has little problem making fun of his own spaced out personality. The other comedic
new addition to the cast is John Lithgow as Amy’s absentee father, and the cause
of the Bellas espionage sub-plot.
Even though there
isn’t a championship organically fit into the plot, there is a competition when
DJ Khaled offers a record deal to the USO performer that impresses him the
most. The Bellas are up against more than usual as the only acapella group on
the tour, forced to compete against bands with instrumental assistance. But the
acapella connection that has tied all of the films together is severed even
further by Beca’s aspirations to over-produce her own music in contrast to the simplicity
of vocal performances they are known for. If the lesson that the Bellas learn is
that nothing can stay the same forever, the franchise seems to have learned the
same lesson by veering away from what made the first two films so successful.
Despite an
explosive opening sequence, complete with a slow-motion pyrotechnic stunt that
is exaggerated for effect, the primary benefit of the 4K Ultra HD release is
the immersive audio. Even with a smaller role in the plot, the music is still
one of the main reasons this franchise remains enjoyable. With that being said,
Pitch Perfect 3 is a colorful film.
It may not be as flashy as some action spectacle, but the picture is sharp and
the colors are deep, making the 4K a noticeable upgrade.
The 4K disc
comes with only the movie, but there is also a Blu-ray disc that also contains
the film’s special features. This includes all-new musical performances not include
in the film, as well as additional deleted scenes and a gag reel of the cast
having a blast during filming. The comradery between the cast members is also
clear in the behind-the-scenes footage of the various making-of featurettes. There
is one about the last installment of the franchise, as well as one about Khaled
and another focused on Rebel Wilson’s contributions to the movies. The extras
also include a digital copy of the film.
Entertainment Value:
7.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Special Features: 7.5/10
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