Pitch Perfect Review

Pitch Perfect

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson
Director: Jason Moore
Genre: Comedy, Music
Rated: M
Running Time: 112 minutes

Synopsis: Beca is that girl who'd rather listen to what's coming out of her headphones than what's coming out of anyone's mouth. Arriving at Barden University, she finds herself not right for any clique but somehow is muscled into one that she would never have picked on her own: alongside mean girls, sweet girls and weird girls whose only thing in common is how good they sound when they sing together, in the new out-loud comedy Pitch Perfect.

When Beca takes this acoustic singing group out of their world of traditional arrangements and perfect harmonies into all-new mash-ups, they fight to climb their way to the top of the cutthroat world of college music competitions. This could wind up either the coolest thing they'll ever do or the most insane, and it will probably be a little of both.

Loaded with new takes on old favourites, to hits of right now that are seamlessly mixed together, mashed-up and arranged like you've never heard before, Pitch Perfect is directed by Jason Moore, who opened our eyes to the very misbehaved life of puppets in the surprise Broadway sensation Avenue Q.

Joining Kendrick as the unconventional members of Barden's all-female a cappella group, The Bellas, are Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) as Fat Amy, the super-confident, self-professed best singer in Tasmania; Anna Camp (The Help) as Aubrey, a stubborn traditionalist who masks her anxiety with bitchiness; Brittany Snow (Hairspray) as Chloe, the eager-to-please morale booster of The Bellas; Alexis Knapp (Project X) as Stacie, the oversexed musical dynamo; singer Ester Dean (Ice Age: Continental Drift) as Cynthia Rose, the tomboy who proves herself as a vocal force to be reckoned with; and Hana Mae Lee (television's Mike & Molly) as Lilly, who is as meek as a mouse but eager to break out and freestyle her riffs.

Skylar Astin (television's Girls) joins the cast as Jesse, who competes for Beca's affections just as hard as he does the championship title, and Adam Devine (television's Workaholics) plays the self-obsessed Bumper, lead singer of rival group The Treblemakers. British performer Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter franchise) comes aboard as Luke, Beca's smoking-hot manager at the campus radio station, and newcomer Ben Platt joins the production as Benji, Jesse's magic-loving roommate who is a bit too eager to become a part of The Treblemakers. Utkarsha Ambudkar (television's House of Lies) and newcomer Michael Viruet co-star as Donald and Unicycle, additional members of The Treblemakers.

The wonderfully odd commentators of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAs) are played by accomplished comedic performer John Michael Higgins (Best in Show, Yes Man) and actress/producer Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Role Models).

Verdict: Being a fan of all things musical, from Glee to Grease, I was very excited to see Pitch Perfect and when I saw the cast featured Brittany Snow, Anna Kendrick and Australian Rebel Wilson, I knew it was going to be a bit of a giggle-fest.

The movie is all about Becca, the quiet outcast musician (Anna Kendrick from The Twilight Saga) who doesn't want to be at University. To keep her there, her father strikes a deal with her – get involved in a club and University life, and if she still hates it after one year, she can move to LA to pursue her career as a DJ/Producer.

So Becca tries out for 'The Bellas" the school's female a capella singing group, with other new comers including Rebel Wilson, the hilariously honest and extroverted -Fat Amy', and Hana Mae Lee Lilly who whispers every frightening thing she says.

The Bella's are not only trying to redeem themselves from an unfortunate episode at the finals last year but also compete against the rival all male a capella group The Treble Makers. To do this they appeal to their self-appointed control freak leader Aubrey, to let them sing a song written this century.

If you aren't like me, and you can't sit through an episode of Glee, or musicals in general, don't dismiss Pitch Perfect immediately! The comic stylings of Rebel Wilson (who according to Brittany Snow would improvise for 20 minutes on set) does a fantastic job at keeping everyone in stiches laughing.

Rating: ****

Megan Ford

Pitch Perfect

Release Date: December 6th, 2012