So it's not perfect and aca-awesome, but there's no reason why you can't enjoy this song and dance one last time.  

Back in 2012, Pitch Perfect was a surprise smash hit, with critics and audiences singing its praises for being a musical hilarity. A capella groups rose in popularity, riff-offs became a thing, and the Cups sequence became a party trick. (For the record, I'd been doing that for years.) The group rivalries and frank characters were refreshing, with noteworthy performances from Rebel Wilson and Anna Kendrick, and the sequel 3 years later was even more popular. It's now 2017 and the long-graduated Barden Bellas are no longer Barden Bellas, but there's another sequel because if the formula's good, why not make it a trilogy? Pitch Perfect 3 is what it is: a goodbye, an encore even.

The glory days are over and they're all trying to go about their grown-up lives and careers, but the Bellas decide to reunite one last time. It involves an overseas tour performing for the troops and a contest to be the opening act for DJ Khaled, this time against actual instrumental bands that couldn't care less about riff-offs. The storyline and 'competition' elements are already far less convincing or captivating (a band called "Evermoist" featuring Ruby Rose are the main rival, for example), searching for a shoe-in that doesn't come naturally. What does come naturally, however, is the group dynamic and believable friendship, and believe it or not, the bursting into song. So focus on that and lower your expectations - let the plot take a backseat, and enjoy the show. There's no college in sight, and even some very prominent characters from the franchise are completely missing. The only further plot development involves John Lithgow as Fat Amy's shady dad blast from the past and some decent and extremely unexpected kick-ass action scenes. It's all a bit random really.

The film that springs to mind is Magic Mike XXL - yes, really. It said goodbye to any kind of kinda-serious plot and instead, was all about getting back together for some entertaining dance sequences here and there. Same story here (but with more clothes). The songs include Toxic, plus some more recent hits since the last movie like Ex's and Oh's, Cake by the Ocean, and Cheap Thrills and it's all just harmless fun song and dance which I thoroughly enjoyed. Whilst the spotlight is mostly on Fat Amy's family drama, it also eventually brings Kendrick's Beca back to centre stage in a moment that's almost High School Musical. Throw in some cute guys, funny gags, lots of DJ Khaled, and a message about the importance of family, and that's essentially the film.

It's a film that didn't have to be made, but hey ho. It's the end of a chapter, it feels like it, and there's even a sigh of relief as some characters realise they don't have to perform again; the film and its stars know it can't run forever. For me, I was lost in a bubble of guilty pleasures so I almost wish there were more to it so we could get a longer film (90 mins, 20 mins shorter than the last two) but I doubt that's even possible. The autotuned melodies are pitch-perfect but Pitch Perfect 3 is not perfect. But then again, were we ever expecting it to be?

Pitch Perfect 3 is in cinemas now.