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Sequel is far from "Perfect"

This is the sequel diehard fans of the first "Pitch Perfect" movie want. It's quick and silly, offering a great deal of what the last film had to offer.

That's really the main problem with "Pitch Perfect 2" - it's more of the same. The jokes seem recycled from the first film, desperately trying to cash in on what made the first movie such a surprise hit. A low-budget film that made over $60 million, "Pitch Perfect" was an instant hit and created a wild new fan base. Now, we have the inevitable sequel, which is a bit all over the map.

As the film opens, The Bellas are performing for President Obama (seen reacting to their performance thanks to stock footage). Their performance goes disasterously wrong when Fat Amy's (Rebel Wilson) entrance results in a wardrobe malfunction. The Bellas are sanctioned for the incident and are no longer allowed to perform at the collegiate level. Beca (Anna Kendrick), who was forced into The Bellas in the first film, doesn't accept their punishment. She proposes that if The Bellas win the World A Cappella Championship, they can be reinstated.

Therein lies the problem. The Bellas will be up against Das Sound Machine, whose perfect voices are matched by their flashy stage presence. The Bellas - now led by Chloe, played by Brittany Snow - will need to practice endlessly to make sure they even have a chance of this happening. Unlike Chloe, Beca's mind is elsewhere. She has a boyfriend, Jesse (Skylar Astin), and is sneaking off to an internship at a recording company. Beca loves the friends she has made being a Bella but knows there is life after college and she needs to start planning for it.

There's a lot going on in "Pitch Perfect 2" in under two hours. Everything seems so scattershot and haphazardly stitched together, that the movie never really gives us anytime to focus on one character for too long. Even the effortlessly charming Kendrick seems like such an afterthought at times. Each cast member gets a moment for a chuckle but John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks continue to be the highlight of these movies as the commentators. Banks took over the director's chair for the second outing and does a fine job of keeping things moving.

Hailee Steinfeld joins the cast as the newest Bella, who is a legacy entry into the group, thanks to her mother (played by Katey Segal). Also new to the cast is Keegan-Michael Key, as the hard-to-please music producer at Beca's secret internship. He's frustraging and arrogant but Key's spot-on delivery makes his scenes work.

Moments of "Pitch Perfect 2" really pop but a lot of the running gags fall completely flat. Beca has always been the tough one in these movies but she can't handle herself when talking to the Das Sound Machine members. She compliments them when she is trying to insult them. The joke never really lands and becomes repetative throughout the movie.

Before "Pitch Perfect 2" was released, it was announced that the third one was in the works. These movies have a cast that is completely game and bring great energy to these outings. It's now time to focus these movies a bit and make something really funny instead of just passable.