Pass The Popcorn: Pitch Perfect 2

"We're back, Pitches."

My teenage daughter's schedule is more hectic than it's ever been. And — more to the point if I'm being honest — going to a movie with her lovin' mama isn't as high on her list as it once was. 

Oh, let's face it. Going to the movies with me isn't on her list at all.

Nevertheless, we have a cool new cinema in town (after many years without). It has assigned stadium-seating — big, cushy chairs with cup holders and trays for the snacks you can order from the restaurant next door. Best of all, it's walking distance from our house, a nice touch considering that the nearest mulitplex is a good 25-minute drive. I keep an eye on the marquee, hoping that there might be something I can persuade my distracted (disinterested) young offspring to go to with me.

Most of the time, we have a choice of something fairly adult and edgy or the latest biggest-budget blockbuster like The Marvelous Avengers Meet The Justice League At The Edge Of Tomorrow And Beyond 2 in 3-D. 

Not really my cup of tea or even my daughter's.

About three weeks ago, I was pleased to see that Pitch Perfect 2 was playing. A couple of years ago, I took my daughter and a BFF to see the first Pitch Perfect. Despite some fairly nauseating (and, in my opinion, unnecessary) special effects, we thought it was a lot of fun. So, my daughter readily agreed.

Choosing the movie should have been the hard part, right? No. 'Turned out that one of her friends wanted to join us. Of course I said "Yes." First of all, I genuinely like my daughter's friends. Plus, I figured this particular bud would probably appreciate the film; he's a drama guy. But that was the problem.

Or, should I say "Ay, there's the rub."

No, he wasn't appearing in Hamlet, but he was playing Macduff, the avenging hero of Macbeth. His rehearsals precluded our going the first week. Surprisingly, the movie was held over. But, our companion couldn't go the next week either because of his performances. Miraculously, the movie was held over one more time. I locked in an evening unencumbered by show business, riding lessons, babysitting or anticipated homework.

(Although I think he would have understood, my daughter refused to go without her friend. I'd like to think this is a sign of her sense of loyalty — it makes me feel better than thinking it's a sign of her unwillingness to go to a movie just with me. Anyway ...)

The movie, as expected, was funny and musical and had a girl power theme running through it as well. "Fat Amy" pretty much stole the show (as she did the first time around). Anna Kendrick and the rest of the "Barden Bellas" have terrific voices and the singing was top-notch. In the sequel, most of the Bellas are getting ready to graduate. Because of an aerial no-underwear situation (don't ask), they've lost their official acapella status. The only way they can redeem themselves is to win a prestigious international competition, one that no Americans have ever won. ("They hate us!" explain the acapella officials, laughing. "They really hate us!") The competition is a severe — and flawless — team of German singers. 

Mayhem ensues.

The ending was pretty predictable (suffice it to say, they don't "hate us" anymore). But, I thought the movie was fun. When we debriefed, my daughter, to her credit, pointed out that some of the humor was a bit too reality-based to be funny. In particular, there are many jokes about what a latina international student, Florencia "Flo" Fuentes, is going home to (kidnapping, deportation, dying at sea trying to sneak back into this country, almost being sold for a chicken when she was nine). The actress, Chrissy Fit, a Cuban-American, hopes her role will "start a conversation." And, in fairness, most of her anecdotes are in response to the other Bellas thinking that not being allowed to sing is "the end of the world." Apparently not. There are worse fates out there, ladies.

Also, Pitch Perfect 2 (like Pitch Perfect before it) is an equal opportunity offender. They poke rather mean fun at fat girls, lesbians, princesses, control freaks, all varieties of ethnic, and even the very petite but otherwise perfect Kendrick.

Still, I confess I was a little bit embarrassed by my daughter's reaction — or more specifically, my lack thereof.

Or maybe I was a little bit proud. 

If you enjoyed this post, I invite you to order a copy of my book  Lovin' the Alien at www.lovinthealien.com. 

Pass the Popcorn: Pitch Perfect

On Sunday, my teen daughter was supposed to compete in an equestrian event called a Hunter Trial. This meant that we would spend most of the day out in the fields, trying to catch a glimpse of her riding through the woods. I'm not complaining, really. This is how we spend pretty much every weekend.

And, then something happened. It rained.

A quick text from the show's organizer and we had a whole unexpected free day in front of us. Hooray.

After my daughter got over her initial disappointment, she settled in on the couch to watch one of her favorite shows on our iPad. The idea of her wasting an entire day got to me. So, I suggested I take her and some friends to the movies.

Now before you tell me that I simply traded one screen for another, let me explain. Meeting friends, actually traveling to a theatre (in our case, that's about 25 minutes in the car), shopping for junk food, gossiping before the movie, comparing notes after ... I think it's a much more active afternoon than simply staring at video on a tablet. Should I have suggested a museum instead? Probably. But, somehow I don't think that would have been met with much enthusiasm.

Anyway, the movie I suggested was Pitch Perfect. A BFF had already seen it and said it was great. Apparently, it was about a girls' singing group and the teasers we had seen looked funny. It reminded me of an edgier Glee!

Usually, I drive my daughter and her friends to the theatre, then they go to one movie and I go to another. That way, they have their privacy as well as their chauffeur. This time though, the other options were limited. When I warned my daughter that I was going to see Pitch Perfect too, she was less than thrilled. I reassured her that I would sit far away from her and her friends and pretend I didn't know them. This was but a small consolation. However, she didn't have much of a choice.

We arrived early and I went to the box office while the girls raided the discount store Below 5 for candy. Once inside, they headed up into the stadium seating while I settled into a seat in the third row. I have always liked my movies up close and personal.

After too many ads, too many previews and too many warnings about shutting off our cell phones, the film started. As expected, it centered around a college a capella group, called the Barden Belles. With the bulk of their prissy team graduating, they have to recruit an array of misfit singers, who don't really fit the mold. There's a "lezzie" and a "fatty" and a sexpot and an angry edgy girl — all stereotypes, but fun. Eventually they embrace everyone's unique talents and personalities. Of course, they win Nationals. Yay. 

Pitch Perfect was pitch perfectly what I expected except for one technicolor plot element. The leader of the group, a pretty blonde named Aubrey, blows under pressure. I mean, she really blows. As in, blows chunks.

Eeeeeeew!

This charming twist happened not once but twice (three times, actually, if you count an onscreen replay via YouTube). It was as though the movie had miraculously morphed from Glee! into Bridesmaids. Or The Hangover. And, in case the actual vomiting wasn't gross enough (trust me, it was, I think they used baked beans, lots and lots of baked beans), one fairly vacant member of the Belles falls into a pool of puke and proceeds to make a snow angel.

I repeat ... eeeeeeeeew!

Not the sort of girl power movie I was hoping for. (When did chick flicks become upchuck flicks?)

Nevertheless, my girls seemed to enjoy it. On the way home, they gave the movie high marks and relived some of the funnier moments. They agreed that the ending was satisfying — predictable, but satisfying. No one said anything about the you-know-what.

Stomach troubles aside, it was a nice afternoon all around. It will just be a while before I serve baked beans again.