Filled with good and likable performances highlighted by Kendrick's soulful lead.

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2013)

'PITCH PERFECT': Four Stars (Out of Five)
Anna Kendrick shines in this comedy-musical about an all-girls college singing group competing against their male rivals who always best them. Kendrick plays a freshman named Beca who reluctantly joins the team, giving them the talent and energy they need to put on a good show once again. The film also features Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt and Adam DeVine. It was directed by Jason Moore and written by Kay Cannon (two former TV filmmakers). It's based on the book of the same name by Mickey Rapkin. I usually stay away from films like this and when I do give one a try I usually find them painfully unfunny and boring. I gave this one a chance because of it's good reviews and solid box-office and was pleasantly surprised. It's very funny and full of likable characters. Nothing spectacular but a decent comedy-musical that's definitely entertaining.
Kendrick plays Beca, a new freshman at Barden University who attends the school only at the wishes of her father (John Benjamin Hickey), who is a professor at the university. She dreams of moving to Los Angeles and pursuing a music career so she takes an internship at the school's radio station. There she meets another music lover named Jesse (Astin) who develops a crush on her. Beca doesn't have time for boys though and wants to get to LA as soon as possible. Her father makes an agreement with her that he'll help pay for her to move to Los Angeles if she tries harder at school for one year and joins a club. When the local all girl a cappella group discovers how talented a singer she is they talk her into joining their team. Beca, plus a few other misfit girls (that aren't usually given a chance to sing with the popular girls), give the group just what it needs to finally compete with their male rivals (the Treblemakers), who always win the local competition.
The movie is surprisingly witty and fast paced. It's filled with good and likable performances highlighted by Kendrick's soulful lead. Rebel Wilson has been receiving a lot of critical praise for her comedic turn but I think Anna Camp is even funnier as the film's leading female antagonist and Adam DeVine is also a scene stealer as the film's male bad guy. There's plenty of pretty girls to look at; especially Camp, Snow, Kendrick, Alexis Knapp and Elizabeth Banks as a commentator (Banks was also a producer of the film). The performances are equally as likable though. Most of all the movie is just funny. It's been compared to similar films like 'BRING IT ON' and I'd say it's at least as good as that. I'd also put it in the same league as something like 'MEAN GIRLS' or 'CLUELESS'. For it's type it definitely works.
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