By Haley McNulty – Entertainment Editor

The Barden Bellas are back and ready to take on the A Capella World Championships in Copenhagen.

Three years after their incredible win at the National A Capella competition, “Pitch Perfect 2” returns, checking up on the Bellas and following on their journey to compete at the International a capella competition.

Beginning with the embarrassing slip-up the Bellas encountered while performing for the President’s birthday, a capella commentators Gail Feinberger and John Smith break the news that the Bellas are suspended from all a capella competitions, and are replaced on their victory tour by the legendary German group DSM. It is established that unless the group wins the world a capella championships- also having to compete against DSM, who have captured the public’s attention after the Bellas are fading into the background- they will ultimately have to disband the group.

Meanwhile, protagonist Beca Mitchell is trying to juggle the tight schedule of the Bellas, and the secret new internship she landed at a recording studio.

After being hopelessly beaten by DSM at an exclusive riff-off after freshman Emily (daughter of a legend Bella) tries to play an original song, the world a capella championships are looking dim for the Barden Bellas- it isn’t until the Bellas go on a retreat- lead by former Bella leader Aubrey- that the Bellas find their own a capella style, and are confident in their shot at world’s.

The movie starts with a bang – the Presidential birthday performance scene is hysterical as we check up on what the Barden Bellas are up to, two years after their legendary national a capella championship win.

Still, it was clear this sequel wasn’t nearly as good as the first film. Performances fell flat with less-known music, and even the original pieces that were used in the film weren’t good enough to pass in the movie. Additionally, there was less music in general than the first movie. “Pitch Perfect 2” focused on the drama in the Bellas’ lives rather than their actual singing.

Not only this, but the riff-off was a huge letdown after the legendary riff-off in the first movie. The categories were weak, and the teams’ responses were even weaker. While the Bellas certainly turned around for their final performance at the a capella world championships, the movie seemed like a major hit-or-miss.

Overall, while “Pitch Perfect 2” was a decent sequel, the first movie was definitely much more structured, produced, and written. A boring plotline and weak, scattered performances made the movie less than what it could have been.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars