Pitch Perfect 2
Universal Pictures
Rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual innuendo
The Bellas Are Back For Another Madcap, A Cappella Misadventure
The Bellas are back and badder than before! In case you’re unfamiliar with the sassy, all-girl singing group, they’re students at Barden University, a fictional college located in Atlanta, Georgia. In the original, the students overcame a number of frustrating setbacks on the slow road to victory at the national a cappella competition.
This semester, the motley crew led by super senior Chloe (Brittany Snow) has its sights set on the world championships in Copenhagen. However, they get off to a horrible start, thanks to an embarrassing, onstage wardrobe malfunction experienced by Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) while dangling at the end of a rope during a command performance for President Obama and the First Lady.
The audience lets out a collective gasp when she splits her leotard down the crotch, thereby completely exposing her private parts to the world. By the time the dust finally settles on the ensuing reactions to “Muffgate” by the media, the Barden Bellas find themselves temporarily suspended from competition by the board of governors.
Not to worry, the storyline seizes on that pause in the musical cause as a convenient excuse to develop the back stories of several group members. Amy has an ardent admirer in Bumper (Adam DeVine), but will she ever let her guard down long enough to share her sensitive side? Meanwhile, Beca (Anna Kendrick) secretly takes an internship with a Grammy-winning record producer (Keegan-Michael Key) with hopes of having him listen to the tunes she’s composed.
There’s also drama surrounding an angry black lesbian (Ester Dean), a freshman legacy admission Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) with low self-esteem, and an undocumented alien (Chrissie Fit) afraid of being deported. The pithy banter, here, frequently borders on the politically-incorrect, but it somehow works, perhaps because it’s never too mean-spirited.
As the assorted controversies are gradually amicably resolved, specter of the big showdown with the German defending world champs, The Sound Machine, looms ever larger on the horizon. Curiously, though billed as a celebration of a cappella renditions of classic hits and show tunes, all the vocalists are actually accompanied by musical instruments.
Will the Bellas win? What? Are you in a rush? Just sit back and enjoy the irreverent ride. As one-man band Bobby McFerrin would warble, “Don’t worry, be happy.” A road to redemption paved with wisecracks and wonderful harmonies.
Very Good (3 stars)
Running time: 115 minutes
1001 Grams
Kino Lorber
Unrated
Nerdy Norwegian Shaken Out Of Comfort Zone In Quirky Character Study
For years, Marie (Ane Dahl Torp) served as her father, Ernst Ernst’s (Stein Winge), assistant in his capacity as the head of Norway’s Institute of Weights and Measures. The low-visibility government position enabled the homely spinster to toil away in the shadows and thus hide her obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
But then everything changed the fateful day her father had a heart attack and had to be hospitalized. That catastrophic development has now forced Marie to assume a more public role, including representing the nation at the upcoming convention being held in France by members of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.
The organization’s hot button topic involves the impending conversion of the standard kilo from a solid into a state-of-the-art electronic form ostensibly ensuring a higher degree of accuracy. And while such a concern might make the Average Joe’s eyes glaze over, it’s the sort of topic which absolutely enthralls Marie and her equally-nerdy colleagues.
Before departing for the seminar, she takes Norway’s official kilo out of the safe where it’s stored and bundles it up carefully for the possibly perilous trek to Paris. Nothing earth-shattering is expected to transpire there, unless you’re the type of geek who gets excited by a spirited debate about redefining mass units.
That’s the solemn point of departure of 1001 Grams, the latest offering from filmmaker Bent Hamer (Kitchen Capers). The enigmatic Norwegian has a knack for creating droll dramedies apt to enthrall or infuriate depending on the degree of one’s tolerance for tortoise-paced productions.
In this case, 1001 Grams unfolds so slowly that, at first blush, the tale comes off as a practically-pointless slice-of-life indulgence. As it turns out, however, there is actually an interesting arc to Marie’s character, reflected in an attraction which blossoms at the 11th-hour into romance with a fellow scientist (Laurent Stocker).
An intriguing object lesson highlighting how hard it is not only to realize you’re in a rut but to find the strength to abandon self-destructive habits that have long-since outlived their usefulness.
Very Good (3 stars)
In Norwegian, French and English with subtitles
Running time: 87 minutes
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
For movies opening May 22, 2015
Chocolate City (R for profanity, brief violence, partial nudity and pervasive sexuality) Inner-city saga about a cash-strapped college student (Robert Ri’chard) who moonlights as a stripper at a neighborhood nightclub on ladies’ night. Ensemble cast includes Vivica A. Fox, Tyson Beckford, DeRay Davis, Carmen Electra, Ginuwine and Michael Jai White.
Poltergeist (PG-13 for intense horror fare, mild profanity and suggestive material) Remake of the 1982, haunted house horror classic about the abduction of a little girl (Kennedi Clements) whose family is being terrorized by malevolent spirits. Starring Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt and Jarred Harris.
Tomorrowland (PG for brief profanity, mature themes, action, violence and scenes of peril) Sci-fi adventure about a precocious teen (Britt Robertson) and a jaded genius (George Clooney) who embark on a dangerous mission to a faraway place in another dimension. With Hugh Laurie, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key and Tim McGraw.
Aloft (R for profanity and sexuality) Tale of redemption about a journalist (Melanie Laurent) who orchestrates the reunion of a renowned artist/healer (Jennifer Connelly) with the son (Cillian Murphy) she’d abandoned 20 years earlier. Support cast includes Oona Chaplin, Ian Tracey and Peter McRobbie.
(Dis)Honesty (Unrated) Truth-telling is the subject of this documentary exploring the toll that lying takes on us, both individually and collectively, as a society.
The Farewell Party (Unrated) Dark comedy, set in Jerusalem, revolving around the compassionate friends of a terminally-ill retiree (Shmuel Wolf) who build a self-euthanasia machine for him and other residents of their old folks home. With Ze’ev Revach, Levan Finkelshtein and Ruth Geller. (In Hebrew with subtitles)
Gueros (Unrated) Social satire about a troubled teen (Sebastian Aguirre) sent by his overwhelmed mother to live with his big brother (Tenoch Huerta) attending college in Mexico City. Featuring Ilse Salas, Leonardo Ortiz Gris and Raul Briones. (In Spanish with subtitles)
Love At First Fight (Unrated) Romantic romp revolving around a conventional carpenter (Kevin Azais) who falls head-over-heels for a paranoid survivalist (Adele Haenel) preparing for Armageddon. With Antoine Laurent, Brigitte Rouan and William Lebghil. (In French with subtitles)
The Rumperbutts (Unrated) Marital crisis comedy about a miserable couple (Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel) whose relationship is on the rocks despite sharing phenomenal success performing as a musical duo on a children’s TV show. Support cast includes Josh Brener, Vanessa Ray and Arian Moayed.
Seeds Of Time (Unrated) Eco-documentary chronicling conservationist Cary Fowler’s campaign to protect the eroding foundation of humanity’s food supply in the face of rapid climate change.
Sunshine Superman (PG for mature themes, smoking, brief profanity and a nude image) Breathtaking biopic chronicling the exploits of thrill-seeker Carl Boenish (1941-1984), the late freefall cinematographer generally recognized as the father of the B.A.S.E. (Building/Antenna/Span/Earth) jumping movement.
When Marnie Was There (PG for smoking and mature themes) Animated adaptation of Joan G. Robinson’s children’s novel of the same name about a sickly foster child (Sara Takasuki) sent to the seacoast to recuperate who finds herself befriended by a mysterious girl (Kasumi Arimura) she meets while wading in the marshes. Voice cast includes Nanako Matsushima, Susumu Terajima and Toshie Negishi. (In Japanese with subtitles)
Winning (Unrated) High-octane documentary revisiting Paul Newman’s 35-year career as a racecar driver. Featuring commentary by Jay Leno, Robert Redford, Mario Andretti and Willy T. Ribbs.
