‘Pitch Perfect 2’ hits girl-power notes

By Jocelyn Noveck

AP National Writer

“Who run the world? GIRLS!” sing those irrepressible Barden University Bellas, channeling Beyonce, in “Pitch Perfect 2.”

And yes, they sure do run the world.

The highly anticipated sequel to the 2012 surprise hit “Pitch Perfect” is now, more than ever, a celebration of girl power, girl bonding, girl harmony, and most of all, girl laughs.

That should be good news for the many, many young women who loved the infectious “Pitch Perfect.” And really, all the news is good about this sequel: It is, if anything, funnier than the original. It brings back all your favorite folks, most notably the sweetly geeky and adorable Anna Kendrick and the bawdy, nothing-is-sacred Rebel Wilson, whose Fat Amy gets more screen time and makes the most of it.

There’s also a new addition, Hollywood it-girl Hailee Steinfeld as an aspiring songwriter. Aside from injecting new blood into the Bellas, she’s pretty much the only one who doesn’t graduate college by the end of the movie — significant for future sequels.

The other important change of note is that “Pitch Perfect 2” is directed by actress Elizabeth Banks, who also produces AND reprises her role as Gail. Her scenes with the cheerfully racist and sexist John (a sublime John Michael Higgins), narrating the Bellas’ various competitions, are the film’s highlight. He describes the Bellas as an “inspiration to girls all over the country too ugly to be cheerleaders.”

We begin with our Bellas giving a command performance at Lincoln Center. All goes well until Fat Amy’s spandex pants rip. She’s suspended in the air, and she’s not wearing anything underneath.

The disgraced Bellas are suspended from competition. But the ever-practical Beca (Kendrick) finds a loophole: if they can win the WORLD championships, will they be reinstated? Sure, they’re told, like THAT would ever happen.

Their biggest competition: Das Sound Machine. These European champions are terrifying in their perfection.

It all comes down to a huge final confrontation before thousands of fans.