Title: Pitch Perfect
Directed by: Jason Moore
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: September 28, 2012
Rated: PG-13
Synopsis: Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school’s all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition. (Via IMDB)
Shaunta’s Review: Pitch Perfect is one of those talented-underdogs-shine movies that, for me, are almost always a win. Has it been done (and done, and done)? Oh yes. From Footloose to Step Up to Honey to Bring it On, it’s been done. But that’s okay, because it still works. Talent is fun to watch. That’s why we all love Glee and American Idol. And who doesn’t want to see the underdog have her day?
Pitch Perfect was Bring It On, only with singers instead of cheerleaders. From the adding to ‘aca’ to words (aca-awkward!) to the failure of doing the same old thing the senior Bellas left behind for them, the Bring It On vibe is strong. But Pitch Perfect has it’s own thing going on to.
First, it had Rebel Wilson which, as far as I’m concerned is a big plus for any movie. In this movie, she manages to be sharply funny and highlight the silliness of the movie in just the right way. I love Rebel Wilson, and she absolutely shines in this movie.
This movie had a great soundtrack as well. The Breakfast Club reference made me so happy. The music elevated a formulaic movie (too-cool outsider infiltrates the in-crowd and shakes it up, falls in love with a boy then screws it up then fixes it, etc.) to a place where it didn’t matter that I could predict what would happen next at every step (I knew they’d squeak into the finals, that they’d have to come up with something unique to win, that the boy would forgive the girl . . .) Pitch Perfect isn’t trying to blow minds with its innovation. It’s trying to make the audience laugh and maybe sing in their seats, and it does that very well.
Pitch Perfect is based on a non-fiction book, Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, by Mickey Rapkin in much the same way that Mean Girls is based on the non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes, by Rosalind Wiseman. It has a sort of peek into the psyche of a group of people vibe that Mean Girls does, as well.
If you want something profound or that will make you think, this isn’t your movie. The characters are very stereotypical and the story is utterly predictable. Head to the theater to see Pitch Perfect if you’re looking for something that’ll make you feel like singing out loud with the radio on the way home. This one is pure fun. And so funny. If you’ve had a tough day, this is the cinematic equivalent of comfort food. I went with my daughter and our theater was full of laughter all the way through. Other than the beautiful campus where the film is shot, there isn’t anything so visually spectacular that you can’t wait to see it at home, but I don’t regret seeing it on the big screen and I don’t think you will either.
