"Pitch Perfect 2" is not quite as compelling as "Pitch Perfect," the 2012 surprise hit about a college women's competitive a cappella singing group. The original film grossed $115 million worldwide. The sequel outgrossed the original in five days.

Both films, based on the nonfiction book, "Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory," by Mickey Rapkin, benefit from a cultural trend.There's NBC's "The Sing-Off," an a cappella groups contest. Pentatonix, seen in "Pitch Perfect 2," is a big success. The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which dates to 1996, holds an international competition that attracts hundreds of college a cappella groups annually. Since 2005, there's the International Championship of High School A Cappella."Pitch Perfect" and "Pitch Perfect 2" attempt to build on the feel-good a cappella vibe, not always successfully.You know what level of comedy to expect when one of the character's names is Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), a member of the Barden Bellas, and one of the plot points has to do with her having a wardrobe malfunction.The other Barden Bellas are back, too, including Anna Kendrick (Beca), Brittany Snow (Chloe), Alexis Knapp (Stacie), Hana Mae Lee (Lilly), Anna Camp (Aubrey) and Ester Dean (Cynthia Rose).The Treblemakers male a cappella group includes Adam DeVine (Bumper), Skylar Astin (Jesse) and Ben Platt (Benji).New to the a cappella crew is Hailee Steinfeld (Emily) and Chrissie Fit (Flo). Also new is Katey Sagal (TV's "Sons of Anarchy") as Emily's mother, Katherine.There's a fair amount of stunt casting, including Snoop Dogg (as himself), talk show hosts and President Barack and first lady Michelle Obama (in footage edited in from their reactions at the Kennedy Center Honors).The "Pitch Perfect 2" plot line has to do with the Barden Bellas competing internationally, with the main rivals, Das Sound Machine, a team from Germany, led by Flula Borg (Pieter Krämer) and Birgitte Hjort Sørensen (Kommissar)."Pitch Perfect 2" is directed by Elizabeth Banks, in her big-screen directorial debut. Banks has a supporting role as Gail, who now is co-hosting a podcast about a cappella contests with John Michael Higgins (John).Banks directs "Pitch Perfect 2" with a sure sense of her audience. The actors and the characters they play are irresistible.The screenplay by Kay Cannon ("Pitch Perfect") is formulaically predictable, with some comedic dialogue and action that works and a lot that falls flat. This being ostensibly a women's audience film, the use-by date on quips like "This is what happens when you send girls to college." has certainly expired. Then again, a screenplay with a David Hasselhoff joke can't be all bad.Fortunately, the enthusiasm of the performers and the some 16 music numbers, many of which are medleys or mash-ups with amazing choreography, lighting and music video style and split-screen editing, fill in the blanks."Pitch Perfect 2" should be enjoyed by college-age and high school fans of the actors, the original, and a cappella singing groups."Pitch Perfect 2," PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.) for innuendo and language; Genre: Musical, Comedy; Run Time: 1 hr., 45 min. Distributed by Universal Pictures.Credit Readers Anonymous: "Pitch Perfect 2" features a snippet of Anna Kendrick singing "Cups," the adorable song made famous by "Pitch Perfect." Stay for the ending credits. Midway, there's a scene where Adam DeVine auditions for "The Voice."Box Office, May 22: "Tomorrowland" proved to be the Memorial Day holiday weekend hit, opening at No. 1 with $32.9 million, with "Pitch Perfect 2," chiming in at No. 2, dropped from its high note No. 1 opening, with a close $30.8 million, $109.5 million, two weeks;3. "Mad Max: Fury Road," $24.8 million, $88.2 million; 4."Poltergeist," $22.6 million, opening; 5. "Avengers: Age of Ultron," $21.6 million, $404.8 million, four weeks; 6. "The Age of Adaline," $15 million, $39.9 million, five weeks; 7. "Hot Pursuit," $3.6 million, $29 million, three weeks; 8. "Furious 7," $2.2 million, $347.1 million, eight weeks; 9. "Far From the Madding Crowd," $2.2 million, $5.4 million, four weeks; 10. "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2," $1.8 million, $65.6 million, six weeks.Unreel, May 29:"San Andreas," PG-13: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a Freedom High School, Bethlehem Area School District graduate, plays a helicopter rescue pilot after The Big One hits California. Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario and Colton Haynes co-star in the disaster thriller."Aloha," PG-13: Bradley Cooper as a military contractor in a love triangle with Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone. Alec Baldwin co-stars. Cameron Crowe directs the romantic comedy."Results," R: Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan and Giovanni Ribisi star in a comedy about two personal trainers and a wealthy client.Read Paul Willistein's movie reviews at the Lehigh Valley Press website, thelehighvalley-press.com; the Times News website, tnonline.com; and hear them on "Lehigh Valley Art Salon," 6-6:30 p.m. Mondays, WDIY 88.1 FM, wdiy.org, where the movie reviews are archived. Email Paul Willistein: pwillistein@ tnonline. com. Follow Paul Willistein on Twitter @ PaulWillistein and friend Paul Willistein on Facebook.Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes