 | | | Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) belts it out in Pitch Perfect, an out-loud comedy that's loaded with new takes on old favorites to hits of right now that are seamlessly mixed together, mashed up and arranged like you've never heard before. Photo Peter Iovino
| | | | | | Starring Oscar-nominee Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, Twilight), Pitch Perfect is the story of Beca, a reluctant and socially inept college student at Barden University where she is coerced into joining a struggling all-female a capella group called "The Bellas." In the Pitch Perfect world, a capella groups rule - the members are treated like rock stars, and they have their own touring bus and adoring fans. The movie also stars Rebel Wilson, Kristen Wiig's gut-busting roommate in Bridesmaids, who again shows her impressive comedic mettle. The movie revolves around the metamorphosis of The Bellas from a discordant singing group of misfits into a hip, in-your-face, harmony-laden crew and their against-all-odds triumphant achievement to dethrone the Treblemakers, a cocky, all-male group from the same university.
While the movie is formulaic, it more than makes up for that with a hilarious script replete with quick-witted quips and lines that elicit not only laughter, but genuine guffaws. Rebel's character beats everyone to the punch with her self-deprecating attitude. Elizabeth Banks as Gail, the commentator, delivers some of the funniest and smartest lines. For singing group fans, the musical scenes are cheer-worthy and collectively create a must-buy soundtrack. There are a couple of cringe-worthy moments involving projectile vomiting and vomit-angels (you have to see the movie to know what I mean). Even the romantic subplot involving Beca and Jesse (Skylar Astin) somehow fits well into the storyline and does not seem like an afterthought.
Does it look like a glorified Bring It On and Glee mashup? Of course it does. But the difference is, it is much, much, much funnier. Did I already say it is much funnier? And with its loving homage to one of my all-time favorite movies, The Breakfast Club, Pitch Perfect, for all intents and purposes, has the makings of a cult classic itself.
Derek Zemrak is a Film Critic, Film Producer and Founder of the California Independent Film Festival. You can follow Derek on Twitter @zemrak for the latest Hollywood news.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA