Blu-ray

The original Pitch Perfect was one of 2012's biggest cinematic surprises, balancing its toe-tapping a cappella numbers with plenty of acerbic humour.

While this sequel isn't quite up to the same level, debut director Elizabeth Banks has still crafted an enjoyable mix of bawdy comedy, girl power and gonzo musical numbers. It's just a shame that the same effort that was put into orchestrating the a cappella scenes wasn't put into the script, with its story of the disgraced all-girl group the Barden Bellas entering an international competition feeling more like a collection of (admittedly funny) sketches rather than a cohesive story.

Picture: This glossy sequel makes its bow on Blu-ray with an opulent AVC 1.85:1 1080p encode. The most striking aspect is the oversaturated colour palette, which fills the screen with deep, vibrant primaries and warm fleshtones. Contrast is stable throughout ensuring rich blacks full of shadow detail. There are a few instances of banding, but the encode is otherwise technically sound, with no aliasing, ringing or artefacting.
Picture rating: 4.5/5

Audio: While the rest of the film can sound rather front-heavy, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix explodes into life whenever the singing starts. Vocal reproduction offers terrific dynamic range, precise separation and accomplished directional effects that help extend the soundstage and envelop the viewer.
Audio rating: 4.5/5

Extras: Universal has loaded the Pitch Perfect 2 Blu-ray with enough bonus features to leave any Barden Bellas groupie singing its praises.

For those interested in how the film was put together, the disc includes eight short behind-the-scenes featurettes, plus a fun and informative commentary by director-producer-actress Elizabeth Banks and producers Paul Brooks and Max Handelman.

Also included are three extended musical numbers; a bonus song; a breakdown of one of the a cappella performances (allowing you to listen to the background vocals, beat box and lead vocals in isolation); nine deleted/extended/alternate scenes; a gag reel; a reel of alternate lines; and a rap about the Green Bay Packers.
Extras rating: 4/5

We say: It’s impossible not to sing the praises of this Blu-ray platter’s wonderful picture and sound quality

Pitch Perfect 2, Universal Pictures, All-region BD, £25 Approx
HCC VERDICT: 4/5