MOVIE REVIEW - Pitch Perfect

If you need something to do this weekend, go see the new Anna Kendrick music movie, Pitch Perfect which went wide release this week.

PP is a very fun movie that really speaks effectively to today's young generation, all the while being savvy enough to be very appealing to a slightly older sect too.   I have to admit, I walked into this movie with expectations that this was going to be like 20 other "performing" movies before it, and in some small ways it is.   But in the end, what this is -  is done in extraordinary fashion and is incredibly entertaining.

This is the story of Beca (Kendrick).  She is an angry young college student, that would rather be in California writing her remix music tracks than be a college student.  Her father is a professor at this college, and he makes her a deal. Stick out one year of school, give it her best shot, and if she still wants to go west he would let her.  So she has to join a club and she chooses a competitive all-girl singing group called The Bellas.  They sing and perform with no instruments. All vocals.

Of course there is a fair amount of drama with all these young women trying to work together with new ideas meeting the old.  The leader of the group wants things as always, while Beca wants to infuse new songs, and ideas into the act.  Can they all co-exist?

First off, the singing and performing arrangements are completely original, and simply fantastic.  And there is a bunch of it. Many different groups are showcased in this movie.  Very entertaining to say the least. But the Achilles heal of these kind of flicks can be the stuff in between the performances.  But not here.  This is very funny satire and parody of young performing people and the modern college experience in general. There are plenty of really funny moments, and they do take time a create some really interesting characters.  Not all of this works. But overall, it's pretty good.

Anna Kendrick is so darn good at virtually everything she is in.  Again, she is really fun here, likable and easy to watch. She may have the stuff in the long run to go all the way.   She was nominated for an Oscar for Up In The Air 2 years ago, and should have won.  She was great in the average 50/50, and is very good in End Of Watch in theaters now as well.  She is great here, and shows she can really do it all.  The supporting cast is great, and give fine performances of a really snappy script.

Pitch Perfect.  This is very good, and certainly worth a watch if you want a fun night at the movies.  Fantastic music, and really entertaining.