Here's how I summarize the first 45 minutes or so of this film. You're getting into the story. Trying to laugh at the funny parts, but really only laughing when Rebel Wilson is part of the scene because she's hilarious. You're following well, but haven't fully bought in to the storyline. You're waiting for her to come back so you can laugh again, because that's mostly why you paid money to sit in a theater and watch a comedy movie.
The film plods along with intermittent and proportionally large laughs when Wilson is on screen, but then something strange happens. The movie actually starts to be enjoyable. More characters are introduced. The setups are actually paying off now. Dakota Johnson is actually doing things that are funny. We've learned all the characters and all the stories the filmmakers have tried to weave together, but now we're starting to get invested.
How to Be Single is pretty self-explanatory. Johnson plays a girl who breaks up with her boyfriend of four years because she feels that she needs to learn more about herself alone. She meets Wilson, a wild spirit, who tries teaching her how to get the most out of her single life.
Johnson feels out of place comedically at times, but she is the main driving force of any emotion evoked by this film.
The events take place over the course of about a year or so. It recognizes that these things take time and never rushes through stages in a breakup and the self-discovery that comes along with independence.
It's nothing crazy that we haven't really seen before, but in some ways it is. It's suprisingly not very predictable and its humor plays on self-awareness. Just get past the first act and it's pretty much smooth sailing from then on out.
And guys should enjoy it too. The film never becomes too self-righteous or alienates the idea of relationships at all. What this movie does best is finding the balance between uninhibited humor and benevolence. It acts as a good intentioned allegory on loving yourself before being able to love someone else.
On another note, Wilson is flat out funny. She does her usual competent-slacker schtick here, and continues to help prove her case as the funniest woman in Hollywood right now.
Twizard Rating: 82
I, like most fans of 2012's Pitch Perfect, have seen the movie a good handful of times. With that said, it's hard to compare a movie that you've seen once to another which you know so well. But overlooking that fact, Pitch Perfect 2 surpasses the standards set by its predecessor in many ways.
In both films, the Barton Bellas (protagonists) must save their a cappella group from extinction. But while in the first film they have to prove themselves to the world by beating their larger-vocal-ranged male rivals, this one they just have to win a competition in order to fix a problem that they, themselves, created in the first place.
The premise is a little self-constructed and the events feel contrived and less fresh, but it really makes me laugh.
The humor is much of the same self-parody irreverence that makes the first film so appealing. And honestly, I think the jokes in this sequel are better than in the previous film. Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins get more exposure as the snarky a cappella commentators. And we're also introduced to a new character with Keegan-Michael Key playing Beca's (Anna Kendrick) douchey boss at the record label she's working for.
In this film the Bellas actually perform the best final set, whereas in the first film they win the big competition when they probably shouldn't.
Also along the same path as the original movie, there are not a lot of realistic scenarios happening. Obviously, a cappella competitions are nothing like this, and there is a lot more focus on practicing harmonies and actual singing--as opposed to dancing and props. As a music major I could go on for an hour, but let's face it--we're not watching this movie for a realistic experience.
But I do find it weird that the entire Barton Bellas group is comprised of seniors who are about to graduate. I mean, don't they recruit underclassmen to keep their legacy alive?
This movie takes elements from the first film and attempts to repeat them here. And in my opinion, they are all improved versions.
Pitch Perfect 2 is predictable, but mostly shies away from the sappy drama that weighs down its predecessor (with the exception of the retreat camp scenes). If you're a fan of the first film and can see past the fact that this ISN'T the first film, this one won't disappoint. Also, if you're like me and played out the old jokes and one-liners, you'll find this one refreshing.
Twizard Rating: 88
