If you’re like me and not a fan of Glee (although you still enjoy movies
and shows about singers), then you’re in luck. The universe has been kind to us with Pitch Perfect, a funny and entertaining flick about the high and low notes (literally) of competitive a capella singing.
The lovely Anna Kendrick stars as Beca, a hopeful DJ and reluctant
college freshman, who finds herself agreeing to audition for her college’s all-female a capella group, the Bellas, after her vocal
chops are discovered in the shower.
It turns out that the Bella members
are nothing but an island of misfit toys, led by Aubrey (Anna Camp from True Blood) whose unbearable perfectionism drives the group to near-insanity and creative frustration. There’s also a brewing tension between the Bellas and the all-male a capella group, The Treble Makers, whose rivalry creates competitive and romantic
sparks as they both compete
their way to the finals.
Jason Moore, director of the Broadway hit Avenue Q, adds some pleasant touches to the film and helms the performance sequences
quite well. The film is also nicely written
(if a little predictable) and features many hilariously awkward
moments, including the opening scene, which – well, I don’t want to spoil it for you. You’ll just have to see it to believe
it.
The characters are also fairly three-dimensional, other than Bella member Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) who is, like most of Wilson’s characters,
the predictably overweight goofball. Although there is a funny
subplot involving one member (Brittany Snow) who suddenly gets vocal nodules – or “nodes,” as she calls it – and treats it as if it’s some horrible disease.
One of the film’s only missteps is Elizabeth Banks, who is miscast as one of the performance commentators.
Maybe it’s because we’ve seen her in so many films this year, but her performance
just seemed a little flat to me. According to IMDb, her role was originally written for Kristen Wiig, who probably would’ve been better
able to pull off the character’s deadpan delivery. I also wish the film spent more time exploring Beca’s fractured relationship with her father (John Benjamin Hickey); it added quite a bit of realism to the story.
But Pitch Perfect is so enjoyable that you don’t really mind these things. It’s a fun movie, and though it won’t rock your world it’ll at least put a little smile on your face after you leave the theater. That’s good enough for me.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025