There’s, arguably, a good film and story in Pitch Perfect 3, something about the family we’re from and the family we find, but from the opening sequence, which involves an exploding yacht, I knew this one was going to be a mess.

There’s some wonderful ideas, casting John Lithgow in the role of Fat Amy’s (Rebel Wilson) father, Aubrey (Anna Camp) and her own father unable to connect, and the idea of treasuring your past, and having that and your chosen family lifting you up and supporting your choices.

Clinging to their past as Barden Bellas, Beca (Anna Kendrick) and her friends try to find a way to recapture a bit of their old glory. Aubrey’s father, an Army General, gets them a gig with the USO, but Chloe (Brittany Snow) is only really interested if there’s a competition as well – though she does get a little distracted by one of the base officers.

On a European tour, and once again trying to prove themselves with John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks) following them to make a documentary, the Bellas find themselves a little out of their depth (again) as they and three other groups (actual bands this time out) are all competing for a spot to open for DJ Khaled (playing himself).

Fergus (Lithgow) shows up to cause problems for Amy and the rest, he’s a baddie, and things get super ridiculous when he’s introduced. He kidnaps the Bellas, Fat Amy has a fight sequence, and as we saw in the opening an exploding yacht.

The entire series has been silly, enjoyably so, but this one goes a little too far, and it crosses the line to goofy. I adore the Bellas, and I liked their musical numbers, but the story was dreadful.

It’s too bad that this was the way the series ended. I mean, the cast is charming, though both Jesse (Skylar Astin) and Benji (Ben Platt) are glaringly absent, though Beca does explain Jesse’s absence. And that, of course, opens up new romantic potentials for her.

It feels more like a last gasp than a triumphant finale. If you aren’t Fat Amy, or Beca in this film you get treated pretty poorly. Though in the past films the other characters all got beats and moments to shine, this time out it doesn’t feel like they get their due. Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) gets treated horribly.

That may have something to do with the runtime as well. The previous films were just shy of two hours, this one is shy of ninety minutes.

I’ll miss you Bellas, but this is not the one I’ll remember you for.