Review of Pitch Perfect (2012) by Wendy D — 24 Oct 2016

Desperately grasping Glee's coattails and embracing the resurgence of interest in the college a cappella groups, Mickey Rapkin's 2009 non-fiction book sets the baseline for director Jason Moore's debut feature, Pitch Perfect.

Badgered by her professor father into becoming a freshman at Barden University, Becca (Anna Kendrick) makes a deal. If she joins in the 'college experience' and campus activities for just one year, then he will finance her move to LA to chase her music producing dreams.

Overheard by the gung-ho Chloe (Brittany Snow) in the showers, Becca is inappropriately invited to audition for the schools ambitious all-girl a cappella group, The Bellas. Revoltingly shammed at last year's grand final's, the uptight Bella's captain Aubrey (Anna Camp) is determined to restore the group to its former perfect glory and prove once and for all her all-girl group is far superior to campus rivals, the all-boy Treblemakers.

Auditions turn up some interesting characters that the rigid Aubrey has no choice but to accept. From a girl that calls herself Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) so "skinny bitches like them won't do it behind her back" to Lily (Hana Mae Lea) a seemingly demure whisperer with a dark sense of humor.

Always pushing to modernize and give the group flavor and some form of energetic appeal, Becca's independent thinking proves to be the groups downfall, or does it? Can Becca and Aubrey find common ground or will some outside help from the Treblemakers recruit Jesse (Skylar Astin) and "The Breakfast Clubs - single best final scene in the history of cinema" set the tone?

Pedantic purists of this eccentric campus subculture may argue the films validity as by definition this is not a capella- being singing without accompaniment, by using counterpoints and layering, the impact is vastly different making the extremely well thought out music numbers far more engaging.

Hinging the film on the versatile Kendrick was a sheer stroke of genius on the part of filmmakers. Her quirky outsider likeability and natural self-deprecation lends itself to the films reverential John Hughes nods and style whilst poking fun at the same time. Snow's very confident portrayal is wonderfully contrasted with Camp's uptight Little Miss flawless.

Mostly adlibbed, Wilson's boisterously bouncy and overtly Aussie character steals each scene with just the right amount of cringe. The bizarrely crass commentators (played by John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks) make some interestingly non-PC borderline repugnant observations, which in fact get funnier with each viewing. "There's nothing that makes a woman feel more like a girl than a man dressed up as a boy,".

The Verdict: This movie definitely does not have the staying power of its heroin film references (to the iconic The Breakfast Club, just in case you missed the reference) but we won't be forgetting about you in a hurry either. Well not until Glee starts back after Christmas at least.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 14/12/2012.