Blu-ray Movie Reviews

In an era when Glee was everywhere, moviegoers understandably didn’t flock to see the seemingly similar Pitch Perfect on the big screen, but Blu-ray/DVD and TV showings ultimately brought the charming comedy the audience it deserved. Three years later, the mettlesome young songstresses from Barden University are back, eager to win an international competition with the help of a new recruit. Returning co-star/producer Elizabeth Banks also makes a triumphant directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, seamlessly maintaining the ongoing franchise’s breezily mean-spirited humor while staging many memorable new cover versions of eclectic pop tunes.

The Blu-ray is worthy of heartfelt praise as well. Colors are remarkably bold in the too-perfect Pitch Perfect world, with generous details appreciable everywhere we’d expect within the 1.85:1 frame. Even billowy theatrical smoke is naturally resolved, and the jet-black hair on some of the ladies is richly nuanced. Flaws are minimal, even excusable, as in the virtually unavoidable moiré in long shots of a large LED video wall.

The overall character of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is quite different from the usual home theater showoff fodder but is nonetheless impressive. The high resolution affords a wide dynamic range that lets us savor the sonic truth of these genuine, unaccompanied singing voices, with ample low end whenever they drop that bass. The multichannel mix is certainly convincing, with a realistic simulation of an auditorium’s P.A. system, the occasional discrete placement of characters, and the more general representation of a-cappella-loving crowds.

Most substantive among the extras is an audio commentary from Banks and her fellow producers. Additional music is assembled for our further enjoyment, including extended performances and a fascinating breakdown of Das Sound Machine’s final jam that serves as a serious lesson in audio mixing. Twelve minutes of deleted/alternate/extended scenes offer an interesting glimpse of what might have been, the gag reel is good for a few laughs, but the long succession of brief behind-the-scenes featurettes is perhaps best left to the most devout fans. The Blu-ray is even BD-Live-enabled, for Internet-connected players, and a DVD and multi-format Digital Copy of the movie are bundled here as well.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Universal, 2015
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 115 mins.
MPAA Ratings: PG-13
Director: Elizabeth Banks
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld